Amlodipine Suppresses Lung Metastasis by Increasing Cell Stiffness

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cell Biology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Osteosarcoma is a primary bone cancer in children and adolescents.
• Lung metastasis is the main cause of death in osteosarcoma.
• Mechanically softer cells exhibit higher metastatic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if ion channel blockers can increase osteosarcoma cell stiffness.
• To determine if ion channel blockers can prevent lung metastasis in vivo.
• To evaluate amlodipine's effect on osteosarcoma cell stiffness and metastasis.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated actin cytoskeleton and polymerization in ion channel blocker-treated LM8 cells.
• Measured cell stiffness using atomic force microscopy.
• Assessed metastasis-related functions (proliferation, adhesion, migration) and lung metastasis in mice.

Main Results:

• Ion channel blockers increased LM8 cell stiffness and actin intensity.
• Amlodipine treatment reduced cell proliferation and increased cell adhesion.
• Amlodipine significantly reduced lung metastasis in mice without affecting tumor volume.

Conclusions:

• Amlodipine increases osteosarcoma cell stiffness.
• Amlodipine significantly reduces lung metastasis in osteosarcoma.