Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Early stages of metastasis depend on the collective behavior of cancer cells and their interaction with the extracellular matrix (ECM). Cancer cell clusters are known to exhibit higher metastatic potential than single cells. To explore clustering dynamics, we developed a calibrated computational model describing how motile cancer cells biochemically and biomechanically interact with the ECM during the initial invasion phase, including ECM degradation and mechanical remodeling. The model reveals that cluster formation time, size, and shape are influenced by ECM degradation rates and cellular compliance to external stresses (durotaxis). The results align with experimental observations, demonstrating distinct cell trajectories and cluster morphologies shaped by biomechanical parameters. The simulations provide valuable insights into cancer invasion dynamics and may suggest potential therapeutic strategies targeting early-stage invasive cells.
Source: iScience
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,240
Awards: EAGER:Large-Scale Behavior and Collective Effects in Concentrated Bacterial Suspensions in Mucus, MODULUS: Integrative multiscale modeling and multimodal experiments to decode systems-level molecular mecanisms of epithelial systems, Collaborative Research: eMB: Data-driven mechano-chemical models of morphogenesis on deforming domains, G6781432845, G8239370324
OpenAlex ID: W4406787851