scholarly journals Biomechanical Properties of Cancer Cells

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 887
Author(s):  
Gaël Runel ◽  
Noémie Lopez-Ramirez ◽  
Julien Chlasta ◽  
Ingrid Masse

Since the crucial role of the microenvironment has been highlighted, many studies have been focused on the role of biomechanics in cancer cell growth and the invasion of the surrounding environment. Despite the search in recent years for molecular biomarkers to try to classify and stratify cancers, much effort needs to be made to take account of morphological and nanomechanical parameters that could provide supplementary information concerning tissue complexity adaptation during cancer development. The biomechanical properties of cancer cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix have actually been proposed as promising biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. The present review first describes the main methods used to study the mechanical properties of cancer cells. Then, we address the nanomechanical description of cultured cancer cells and the crucial role of the cytoskeleton for biomechanics linked with cell morphology. Finally, we depict how studying interaction of tumor cells with their surrounding microenvironment is crucial to integrating biomechanical properties in our understanding of tumor growth and local invasion.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 219
Author(s):  
Ya-Ling Yang ◽  
Yen-Hsiang Chang ◽  
Chia-Jung Li ◽  
Ying-Hsien Huang ◽  
Ming-Chao Tsai ◽  
...  

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most lethal human cancer globally. For advanced HCC, curable plan for advanced HCC is yet to be established, and the prognosis remains poor. The detail mechanisms underlying the progression of HCC tumorigenicity and the corruption of tumor microenvironment (TME) is complex and inconclusive. A growing body of studies demonstrate microRNAs (miRs) are important regulators in the tumorigenicity and TME development. Notably, mounting evidences indicate miR-29a play a crucial role in exerting hepatoprotective effect on various types of stress and involved in the progression of HCC, which elucidates their potential theragnostic implications. In this review, we reviewed the advanced insights into the detail mechanisms by which miR-29a dictates carcinogenesis, epigenetic program, and metabolic adaptation, and implicated in the sponging activity of competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) and the TME components in the scenario of HCC. Furthermore, we highlighted its clinical significance in diagnosis and prognosis, as well as the emerging therapeutics centered on the activation of miR-29a.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sweta Ghosh ◽  
Subir Kumar Juin ◽  
Suchandra Bhattacharyya Majumdar ◽  
Subrata Majumdar

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (03) ◽  
pp. 129-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. M. Holzapfel ◽  
F. Jakob ◽  
A. A. Kurth ◽  
G. Maier ◽  
K. Horas

SummaryVitamin D deficiency is a global health problem of enormous and increasing dimensions. In the past decades, numerous studies have centered on the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and course of many diseases including several types of cancer. Indeed, vitamin D has been widely acknowledged to be involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in numerous cancer cells. While the full range of molecular mechanisms involveld in cancer cell growth and progression remains to be elucidated, recent research has deepened our understanding of the processes that may be affected by vitamin D or vitamin D deficiency.In this review, we consider the properties of bone that enable cancer cells to grow and thrive within the skeleton, and the role of vitamin D and the vitamin D receptor in the process of primary and secondary cancer growth in bone.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 882-894
Author(s):  
Jahnavi Rama Madhuri Kamaraju ◽  
Raghavendra Rao Kanchi ◽  
Rajesh Kumar Borra ◽  
Padma Suvarna Reniguntla ◽  
Satyanarayana Rentala

Nanophosphor compounds with both diagnostic and therapeutic functions are potential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Lanthanide complexes play a crucial role in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Gadolinium-complexes are commonly used as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents for cancer imaging. The role of a lanthanide, Ytterbium (Yb) in cancer treatment is not unknown. The present work focuses on finding the role of Yb when doped into Gadolinium complexes in cancer treatment. Our results demonstrate that Yb doped Gadolinium molybdate coated with biocompatible silica, effectively inhibited the viability of breast cancer cells after 24 and 48 h of treatment in in vitro, and in contrast the nanophosphor compounds did not affect the viability of healthy cells. Yb doped Gadolinium molybdate also up-regulated apoptotic genes in breast cancer cells. Hence we propose that Yb doped Gadolinium molybdate is a promising theranostic compound. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing anti-cancer nature of Ytterbium-doped into Gadolinium nanophosphors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaowei Wu ◽  
Qingyu Luo ◽  
Zhihua Liu

Abstract MCL1 is an important antiapoptotic member of the BCL-2 family that is distinguishable from other family members based on its relatively short half-life. Emerging studies have revealed the crucial role of MCL1 in the chemoresistance of cancer cells. The antiapoptotic function of MCL1 makes it a popular therapeutic target, although specific inhibitors have begun to emerge only recently. Notably, emerging studies have reported that several E3 ligases and deubiquitinases modulate MCL1 stability, providing an alternate means of targeting MCL1 activity. In addition, the emergence and development of proteolysis-targeting chimeras, the function of which is based on ubiquitination-mediated degradation, has shown great potential. In this review, we provide an overview of the studies investigating the ubiquitination and deubiquitination of MCL1, summarize the latest evidence regarding the development of therapeutic strategies targeting MCL1 in cancer treatment, and discuss the promising future of targeting MCL1 via the ubiquitin–proteasome system in clinical practice.


Author(s):  
Vishal Sharma ◽  
Chhaya Bawa ◽  
Kuldeep Chand Vatsyan

Extensive efforts are going on to understand the molecular mechanisms behind tumor initiation, progression, and invasion and find novel targets for cancer treatment. The physiological state of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial to every step of tumor cell growth and angiogenesis. Cancer cells are rarely in contact with each other. The intervening medium between the cancer cells, immune cells, and other cells become acidic, which significantly affects cancer pathogenesis. It could be a novel targeting marker and may help treat tumors. Even after extensive research in this area, the nature of molecular alterations and the basic mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment remains unclear. Based on recent studies of TME, this mini-review bids a more inclusive overview of the role of TME in cancer cell growth. Also, it helps to understand the potential of TME for therapeutic interventions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 153303382110378
Author(s):  
Qian Zhang ◽  
Xiangling Yang ◽  
Huanliang Liu

Metabolic reprogramming is one of the most common characteristics of cancer cells. The metabolic alterations of glucose, amino acids and lipids can support the aggressive phenotype of cancer cells. Exosomes, a kind of extracellular vesicles, participate in the intercellular communication through transferring bioactive molecules. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that enzymes, metabolites and non-coding RNAs in exosomes are responsible for the metabolic alteration of cancer cells. In this review, we summarize the past and recent findings of exosomes in altering cancer metabolism and elaborate on the role of the specific enzymes, metabolites and non-coding RNAs transferred by exosomes. Moreover, we give evidence of the role of exosomes in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Finally, we discuss the existing problems in the study and application of exosomes in cancer diagnosis and treatment.


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