Using nanotechnology and microfluidics in search of cell biomechanical cues for cancer progression.

Abstract

Cell biomechanical changes in cancer progression During cancer progression, cells undergo numerous genetic and epigenetic changes that impact various cellular functions such as motility, adhesion, proliferation and signaling. These fundamental changes are accompanied by alterations in the cellular structural cytoskeleton which modulates cell biomechanical properties [1]. The biomechanical changes in cells during cancer progression can potentially enable invasion of metastatic cells into the surrounding tissues to access the circulatory system and establish secondary tumors [2]. This suggests that malignancy and the metastatic potential of cancer cells are correlated with their biomechanical phenotype. Advances in nanotechnology and microfluidics facilitate interrogation of the biomechanical properties of single cells and can be directed toward identification of labelfree cues to predict the risk of cancer invasiveness and metastatic potential in its early stages.