Proteolytic fragments of fibronectin function as matrikines driving the chemotactic affinity of prostate cancer cells to human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells via the α5β1 integrin

Fibronectin fragments (FNFr) function as matrikines driving the chemotactic affinity of prostate cancer cells via the α5β1 integrin. Taken together with the high-frequency of α5β1 expression in disseminated prostate cancer cells in bone marrow aspirates from patients, the FNFr/FN-α5β1 interaction warrants further study as a therapeutic target.