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Related Concept Videos

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells01:18

Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells

A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that can divide without limit as needed and can, under specific conditions, differentiate into specialized cells.
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:12

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...

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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from Mouse Mammary Tumors as Tools for Molecular and Computational Studies
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Published on: July 3, 2025

Matrix Stiffness Directs Stemness Signatures in Breast Cancer.

Chantal Kopecky1, Elvis Pandzic2, Sean Porazinski3

  • 1School of Chemistry, Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, Faculty of Science, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Advanced Healthcare Materials
|June 22, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Tumor microenvironment stiffness influences breast cancer cell behavior and drug resistance. Softer matrices promote stem-like traits and increase resistance, while stiffer matrices maintain differentiated states.

Keywords:
3D cancer modelsbioprintingbreast cancercancer stemnessmatrix stiffnessphenotypic plasticity

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Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples
07:03

Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples

Published on: October 2, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cancer Biology
  • Mechanobiology

Background:

  • Phenotypic plasticity is crucial for tumor progression and metastasis.
  • The tumor microenvironment, particularly extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness, provides dynamic cues regulating cancer cell behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how ECM mechanics influence breast cancer cell phenotypes, stemness, and drug resistance.
  • To develop and utilize advanced in vitro models for studying biomechanics in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of 2D microtumors using hydrogel micropatterning to control spatial confinement and stiffness.
  • Creation of mechanically tuneable 3D matrices via drop-on-demand bioprinting.
  • Assessment of phenotypic markers (plasticity, stemness, CD44 isoforms) and drug resistance (doxorubicin, enzalutamide) in response to matrix stiffness.

Main Results:

  • Soft matrices promoted stem-like phenotypes, increased aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) expression, and enhanced drug resistance.
  • Stiff matrices maintained a more differentiated cancer cell profile.
  • CD44 standard isoform expression was enriched in soft matrices, while CD44 variant 9 isoform expression was enriched in stiff matrices.
  • 3D models recapitulated the mechanical regulation observed in 2D models.

Conclusions:

  • Matrix stiffness is a key regulator of breast cancer phenotypic heterogeneity, influencing stemness and drug resistance.
  • Microengineered synthetic matrices offer a physiologically relevant platform for high-throughput investigation of biomechanics in cancer progression, metastasis, and drug resistance.