[Invasion behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells correlates with their rheological properties]

We investigated the viscoelasticity, mechanics of adhesion to collagen I coated surfaces and mechanics of adhesin to liver sinosoidal endothelial cells(LECs) among primary culture human hepatocytes, hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cells as well as HCC-Inv cells, namely HCC cells capable of invading the artificial basement membrane, Matrigel. The results showed that the above-mentioned rheological properties of HCC cells differed obviously from those of normal hepatocytes. HCC-Inv cells exhibited higher viscoelastic coefficients, higher adhesion forces to collagen I coated surfaces as well as higher adhesion forces to LECs than those of normal hepatocytes and HCC cells. Immunocytochemistry showed the differences in cell morphology and cytoskeleton structure between HCC cells and HCC-Inv cells. A brief discussion was presented in relation to the changes in cell rheological properties of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and their pathological significance.