Work

Breast cancer extracellular matrix invasion depends on local mechanical loading of the collagen network

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: tissue constructs upon exposure to an external magnetic field. Beads displaced 0.2-1.6 mm through the collagen gels, depending on magnet size and distance, compressing the collagen network microstructure without gel mechanical failure. Invading cells formed a spatulate pattern as they moved into the compressed ECM region, with individual cells aligned parallel to the bead surface. During the first 24 hours of compressive magnetic force loading, invading cancer cells became round, losing elongation and ability to invade out from the bead surface, while still actively dividing. In contrast, cell invasion in unloaded constructs and in loaded constructs away from the compression region invaded as single cells, transversely outward from the bead surface. Finally, cell proliferation was 1.3× higher only after external magnet removal, which caused relaxation of mechanical stress in the collagen network. These findings indicate effects on breast cancer invasion of mechanical loading of ECM, both from compressive loading and from load relaxation. Findings point to the influence of mechanical stress on cancer cell behavior and suggest that relaxing mechanical stress in and around a tumor may promote cancer progression through higher proliferation and invasion.

Source: Journal of Materials Chemistry B

DOI: 10.1039/d4tb01474j

Authors: Hanadi M. Alqosiri, Hadeel M. Alqasiri, Sara E. Alqasire, Victor E. Nava, Bidhan C. Bandyopadhyay, Christopher B. Raub