A Physical Framework to Control Cancer Cell Heterogeneity and Plasticity
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We propose a physics-based framework in which cancer cell state is defined by position and velocity in a continuous space of directly measurable physical variables-cell surface area (S) and volume (V)-and motion through S-V space as an interpretable proxy for plasticity. Therapy generates S-V vector fields that govern trajectories, enabling the design of drug combinations to steer heterogeneous cell populations toward nonviable states, offering a predictive and physically interpretable alternative to therapies directed against oncogenic mutations and/or predefined cell subpopulations.
Source: Cancer Discovery
Institutions: VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven
Language: English
Topic: Cancer Cells and Metastasis
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7147418104