DMT1 regulates extracellular matrix remodeling in triple-negative breast cancer invasion

Total cellular iron content is irrelevant without appropriate intracellular iron trafficking and DMT1 is necessary for balanced iron homeostasis. DMT1 maintains ECM structure of TNBC tumors by supporting ER function for collagen synthesis.

As collagen is the major component of ECM and collagen downregulation promotes tumor invasion. Our results challenge the typical idea of restricting cancer growth by iron starvation and show that dysregulated iron metabolism promotes metastasis. The work links subcellular iron distribution to ER function and ECM organization.