%0 Journal Article %A E. Mammadova-Bach %A T. Rupp %A C. Spenlé %A I. Jivkov %A P. Shankaranarayanan %A A. Klein %A L. Pisarsky %A A. Méchine-Neuville %A G. Cremel %A M. Kedinger %A O. De Wever %A N. Ambartsumian %A S. Robine %A E. Pencreach %A D. Guenot %A J.G. Goetz %A P. Simon-Assmann %A G. Orend %A O. Lefebvre %T Laminin α1 orchestrates VEGFA functions in the ecosystem of colorectal carcinoma %D 2017 %R 10.1101/099465 %J bioRxiv %P 099465 %X Tumor stroma remodeling is a key feature of malignant tumors and can promote cancer progression. Laminins are major constituents of basement membranes that physically separate the epithelium from the underlying stroma. By employing mouse models expressing high and low levels of the laminin α1 chain (LMα1), we highlighted its implication in a tumorstroma crosstalk, thus leading to increased colon tumor incidence, angiogenesis and tumor growth. The underlying mechanism involves attraction of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts by LMα1, VEGFA expression triggered by the complex integrin α2β1-CXCR4 and binding of VEGFA to LM-111, which in turn promotes angiogenesis, tumor cell survival and proliferation. A gene signature comprising LAMA1, ITGB1, ITGA2, CXCR4 and VEGFA has negative predictive value in colon cancer. Together, this information opens novel opportunities for diagnosis and anti-cancer targeting.BMbasement membraneECMextracellular matrixLMlamininvLMα1villin-LMα1 transgenic miceCAFscancer-associated fibroblastsIFimmunofluorescenceVEGFvascular endothelial growth factor. %U https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2017/01/10/099465.full.pdf