Lolo, Fidel NicolasJimenez-Jimenez, VictorSanchez-Alvarez, Migueldel Pozo, Miguel Angel2020-07-082020-07-082020-06Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2020; 39:485–503http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/10702Tumor stiffening is a hallmark of malignancy that actively drives tumor progression and aggressiveness. Recent research has shed light onto several molecular underpinnings of this biomechanical process, which has a reciprocal crosstalk between tumor cells, stromal fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix remodeling at its core. This dynamic communication shapes the tumor microenvironment; significantly determines disease features including therapeutic resistance, relapse, or metastasis; and potentially holds the key for novel antitumor strategies. Caveolae and their components emerge as integrators of different aspects of cell function, mechanotransduction, and ECM-cell interaction. Here, we review our current knowledge on the several pivotal roles of the essential caveolar component caveolin-1 in this multidirectional biomechanical crosstalk and highlight standing questions in the field.engAMhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacional32514892392485-50310.1007/s10555-020-09900-y1573-7233Cancer metastasis reviewsopen access