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Related Experiment Video

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A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model

A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model

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Nuclear Biophysical Changes during Human Melanoma Plasticity.

Maria Chiara Lionetti¹, Maria Rita Fumagalli^1,2, Caterina A M La Porta^1,2

¹Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Center for Complexity and Biosystems, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

Cells, Tissues, Organs

|December 12, 2022

Summary

Tumor cells switch phenotypes through epithelial-mesenchymal transition, altering nuclear properties and chromatin. This plasticity drives melanoma heterogeneity and transcriptional changes, impacting cell behavior.

Keywords:

Melanoma Nuclear morphology Phenotypic switching

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Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells

Published on: June 7, 2019

Area of Science:

Oncology
Cell Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Tumor plasticity enables cells to adapt their phenotype based on environmental cues.
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process associated with increased tumor aggressiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate biophysical changes during melanoma cell phenotypic switching.
To explore nuclear blebbing, stiffness, and the role of polycombs and lamins in this process.

Main Methods:

Analysis of nuclear blebbing and stiffness in human melanoma cells.
Investigation of polycomb-lamin interactions and chromosome accessibility during phenotypic transition.

Main Results:

Phenotypic switching involves significant nuclear alterations, including changes in polycomb-lamin interactions.
Chromatin accessibility is modified, leading to altered transcriptional activity.
These nuclear changes contribute to the formation of heterogeneous cell populations in melanoma.

Conclusions:

Melanoma cell phenotypic switching is driven by nuclear and chromatin remodeling.
These molecular mechanisms underlie the development of cellular heterogeneity and altered cell phenotypes in melanoma.