Nanomechanical-based classification of prostate tumor using atomic force microscopy

The loss of mechanical homeostasis between tumor cells and microenvironment is an important factor in tumor metastasis. In the process, mechanical forces affect cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and tissue development.

Using high spatial resolution of Atomic force microscopy (AFM) technology, our study provides the direct measurement of the nanomechanical properties of prostate cancer clinical tissue specimens.

AFM was used to determine the biomechanical properties of prostate tissue with different grade scores. K-means clustering method and fuzzy C-means were used to distinguish the cellular component in prostate tissue from non-cellular component based on their viscoelasticity. Futhermore, AFM measurements in vitro cells, including metastatic prostate cells (PC-3) and normal human prostate cells (PZ-HPV-7) were carried out.

The Young's modulus was decreased in prostate cancer progression, and the elasticity of cellular component in prostate cancer tissue was smaller than that of normal prostate tissue. PC-3 cells were softer than PZ-HPV-7 cells. Further mechanism investigation showed that the difference in modulus between cancerous and normal prostate tissue may be associated with a greater actin cytoskeleton distribution inside the cancer cells.

The results suggests that the nanomechanical properties can classify the prostate tumor, which could be used as an index for the identification and classification of cancer at cellular level.