PNAS paper clarifies mechanical extrusion to promote tumor metastasis

PNAS papers show that mechanical extrusion promotes tumor metastasis

Janet M. Tse of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently published a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , saying that mechanical extrusion may promote tumor cell metastasis.

Tumor cells undergo proliferation and division that are not controlled by the body in the body. When the number of divisions reaches a certain level, the tumor cells are squeezed by a limited space. To investigate the effect of this extrusion on tumor cells, Janet Tse et al. placed mammary epithelial cells on a membrane surface and squeezed them with a piston.

The researchers found that squeezing promotes the migration of breast cancer cells by stimulating the formation of "leader" cells that are first transferred in the edge of the cell layer.

The "leader" cells can expand their migration to the migration direction while maintaining contact with the trailing cells during the transfer process.

In addition, extrusion induces tumor cells to secrete a protein called fibronectin, which promotes tumor cell migration and "leader" cells by enhancing adhesion between cells and cells and between the cell and the membrane surface. Formation.

The researchers point out that highly invasive tumor cells are often affected by extrusion, perhaps because these cells are ready to change the squeezed environment.

According to the authors, the squeezing of tumors during growth can cause migration by stimulating the formation of "leaders" cells, causing tumor metastasis. The mechanical extrusion mechanism provides a new target for preventing tumor migration and infiltration.