Cell Cytoskeleton and Stiffness Are Mechanical Indicators of Organotropism in Breast Cancer.

ABSTRACT: Tumor metastasis involves the dissemination of tumor cells from the primary lesion to other organs and the subsequent formation of secondary tumors, which leads to the majority of cancer-related deaths. Clinical findings show that cancer cell dissemination is not random but exhibits organ preference or organotropism. While intrinsic biochemical factors of cancer cells have been extensively studied in organotropism, much less is known about the role of cell cytoskeleton and mechanics. Herein, we demonstrate that cell cytoskeleton and mechanics are correlated with organotropism. The result of cell stiffness measurements shows that breast cancer cells with bone tropism are much stiffer with enhanced F-actin, while tumor cells with brain tropism are softer with lower F-actin than their parenta

SUBMITTER: Tang K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8064360 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature