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Longitudinal Measurement of Extracellular Matrix Rigidity in 3D Tumor Models Using Particle-tracking Microrheology

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Viscoelasticity Measurements Reveal Rheological Differences Between Stem-like and Non-stem-like Breast Cancer Cells.

A Mohammadalipour^1,2, M M Burdick², D F J Tees¹

¹1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA.

Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering

|November 14, 2019

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) exhibit distinct mechanical properties. This study found stem-like cancer cells are more deformable than non-stem-like cells, suggesting mechanical properties as potential biomarkers.

Keywords:

Cancer stem cells Cytoskeleton Intracellular particle tracking Mechanical biomarker Mechanical properties Micropipette aspiration Microrheology

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Mechano-Node-Pore Sensing: A Rapid, Label-Free Platform for Multi-Parameter Single-Cell Viscoelastic Measurements

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Published on: December 2, 2022

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cancer Biology
Cell Mechanics

Background:

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are crucial in tumor growth and recurrence.
Current CSC identification relies on surface markers, but their clinical impact is debated.
Cancer cells show altered mechanical properties compared to normal cells.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if mechanical properties, specifically viscoelasticity, can distinguish between stem-like and non-stem-like cancer cells.
To explore the relationship between cell deformability and CSC phenotype in breast cancer.

Main Methods:

Utilized micropipette aspiration (MA) and intracellular particle tracking (IPT) microrheology.
Measured whole-cell and local viscoelasticity in four breast cancer cell lines with varying CSC markers.
Assessed F-actin content in relation to cell deformability.

Main Results:

Stem-like breast cancer cell lines (Hs578T, MDA-MB-231) were significantly more deformable than non-stem-like lines (MDA-MB-468).
Non-stem-like BT-20 cells displayed intermediate deformability.
Enhanced deformability in stem-like cells correlated with lower and more dispersed F-actin content.

Conclusions:

Cytoskeletal differences influence the rheological properties of cancer cells.
Cellular mechanical properties, particularly deformability, show potential as biomarkers for cancer stem cells.
These findings may pave the way for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs.