Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 27, 2025

Modeling and Imaging 3-Dimensional Collective Cell Invasion
Published on: December 7, 2011
Nanoluminal Signaling Shapes Collective Metastasis
Valentin Gensbittel1, Ignacio Busnelli1, Naël Osmani1
1INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France.
Abstract:
Clustering of tumor cells is known to grant superior metastatic efficiency compared with single cells. However, the mechanisms involved remain elusive. Reporting in Cell, Wrenn et al. describe how sealed intercellular compartments, nanolumina, are used as growth factor reservoirs within tumor cell clusters to regulate tumor cell proliferation.
Related Concept Videos
Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...

