Aged extracellular matrix

Aged extracellular matrix has been studied in 2 papers since 2021: none in people yet, 1 in animals, 1 in cells; 1 in the past year. The research so far is in animals and cells. The newest story, Nov 5, 2026: “Aged tissue scaffolds promote breast tumor growth in mice”.

Intervention

2 papers study it4 findingsUpdated Aug 8, 2026

1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 2 papers on aged extracellular matrix

At a glance

The findings reach mice, none yet in people. 1 lab in 1 country.

None of its findings points the other way.

1 lab in 1 country

Funders: National Cancer Institute and 5 more

Animals1
Cells1

What did studies of aged extracellular matrix find?

Studies of aged extracellular matrix measured 4 outcomes; the most studied are tumor volume (1 study), cell motility (1) and E-cadherin membrane localization (1).

Tumor volume

upin mice1

1 study

Aged extracellular matrix increases tumor volume in mice (implanted MCF10A cells seeded on aged versus young matrices).
“Aged tumors exhibited significantly greater volume and a larger tumorigenic region when compared to young tumors”
Animalsimplanted MCF10A cells seeded on aged versus young matrices
Aged tissue scaffolds promote breast tumor growth in mice
BMC biologyAug 8, 2026

Cell motility

upin human cells1

1 study

Aged extracellular matrix increases cell motility in KTB21 cells.
“Decellularized breast matrix from aged mice leads to loss of E-cadherin membrane localization in KTB21 cells, increased cell motility and invasion”
Cellsin KTB21 cells
Aged Breast Extracellular Matrix Drives Mammary Epithelial Cells to an Invasive and Cancer-Like Phenotype
Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)Oct 7, 2021

E-cadherin membrane localization

downin human cells1

1 study

Aged extracellular matrix decreases E-cadherin membrane localization in KTB21 cells on aged matrix.
“Decellularized breast matrix from aged mice leads to loss of E-cadherin membrane localization in KTB21 cells”
Cellsin KTB21 cells on aged matrix
Aged Breast Extracellular Matrix Drives Mammary Epithelial Cells to an Invasive and Cancer-Like Phenotype
Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)Oct 7, 2021

More on E-cadherin membrane localization

Invasiveness

upin human cells1

1 study

Aged extracellular matrix increases invasiveness in KTB21 and MDA-MB-231 cells.
“aging breast ECM alone is sufficient to drive normal human mammary epithelial cells (KTB21) to a more invasive and cancer-like phenotype, while promoting motility and invasiveness in MDA-MB-231 cells”
Cellsin KTB21 and MDA-MB-231 cells
Aged Breast Extracellular Matrix Drives Mammary Epithelial Cells to an Invasive and Cancer-Like Phenotype
Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)Oct 7, 2021

Latest

1 paper in 12 months

BMC BiologyNov 5

Aged tissue scaffolds promote breast tumor growth in mice

Human breast cancer cells on scaffolds from mice aged 24–48 months formed larger tumors in young mice than cells on scaffolds from mice aged 2–4 months.Human breast cancer cells on scaffolds from mice aged 24–48 months formed larger tumors in young mice than cells on scaffolds from mice aged 2–4 months.

Mouse studyMechanisms