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Mechanobiological Strategies to Augment Cancer Treatment

Alka Kumari1, S Manasa Veena1, Rashmita Luha1

  • 1Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India.

ACS Omega
|November 29, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells

Area of Science:

  • Cellular mechanobiology
  • Cancer biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Cancer cells display altered extracellular matrix mechanosensing due to changes in mechanosensory cytoskeletal proteins.
  • Aberrant mechanosensing of the tumor microenvironment (TME) by cancer cells correlates with disease progression.
  • Altered cellular mechanosensing impacts cell mechanobiological properties, increasing susceptibility to mechanical stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review emerging mechano-based strategies targeting cancer.
  • To explore how interfering with cellular mechanosensing and the TME can inhibit cancer growth.
  • To highlight advancements in targeting cancer's mechanical properties.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on cancer cell mechanobiology.
  • Analysis of approaches targeting cellular mechanosensing machinery.
  • Examination of strategies modifying the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Main Results:

  • Mechano-based approaches offer novel ways to target cancer.
  • Interfering with cellular mechanosensing can disrupt cancer progression.
  • Understanding cell biomechanics is key to developing new cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting cancer cell mechanosensing presents a promising therapeutic avenue.
  • Modulating the TME's mechanical properties can inhibit cancer.
  • Future research should focus on translating these mechano-based strategies into clinical applications.

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