Collagen and Its Roles in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment: Structure, Function, and Therapeutic Potential

Collagen, the primary structural protein of the extracellular matrix, shows marked structure-function duality in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Biomechanical and biophysical alterations-matrix stiffening, viscoelastic energy dissipation, fiber alignment and tumor-associated collagen signatures, reduced pore size, and solid stress-create migration tracks, sequester signaling cues that regulate proliferation and metabolism, and from dense barriers that impede immune infiltration. These changes are sensed and transduced via mechanosensing and mechanotransduction pathways, thereby reinforcing malignant behavior and immune exclusion. Given its dynamic, spatiotemporally regulated roles, collagen is a promising therapeutic target to overcome immunotherapy resistance. This review examines the structural features, biological functions, and regulatory pathways of collagen within the TIME. Based on these insights, several clinical strategies were highlighted: targeting cancerassociated fibroblasts and profibrotic signaling to reduce fibrosis; remodeling the matrix enzymatically or physically; and inhibiting collagen receptor signaling. These approaches are often combined with immune checkpoint inhibition. Future directions will emphasize biomarker-guided stratification of collagen status; combining therapies informed by mechanobiology; and using scalable, noninvasive monitoring to optimize immunotherapy outcomes.