Biophysical Society Thematic Meeting | Singapore

Mechanobiology of Disease

Poster Abstracts

9-POS Board 9 Topography Induces Differential Sensitivity on Cancer Cell Proliferation Parthiv Kant Chaudhuri 1 , Catherine Qiurong Pan 1 , Boon Chuan Low 1,2 , Chwee Teck Lim 1,3 . 1 Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, SINGAPORE, Singapore, 2 National University of Singapore, SINGAPORE, Singapore, 3 National University of Singapore, SINGAPORE, Singapore. Cancer is presently one of the topmost non-communicable diseases and the microenvironment that surrounds the cancerous cells plays a critical role in determining the metastatic ability of the malignant cells. During the progression of breast cancer, the extracellular matrix (ECM) fibers that surrounds the cancer cells align themselves in a parallel orientation and this helps in the migration of the tumor cells away from the primary tumor. Since cancer cells also possess uncontrolled proliferation ability, here we questioned whether such changes in the ECM topography during tumor progression could also affect the proliferation efficiency of the cancer cells. To answer this question, we used micro fabrication tools to mimic such topographic features in-vitro by fabricating microgratings of specific dimensions. We discovered the existence of a Mechanically Induced Dormancy (MID) where the anisotropic topographical cues provided by microgratings could reduce normal healthy cell proliferation; however, the cancer cells could successfully overcome this mechanical barrier and continue uncontrolled proliferation. Further research to understand the molecular mechanism of proliferation reduction led to the identification of higher Rho-ROCK-Myosin based contractility in normal cells that generates mechanical cues to prevent their proliferation. This study reveals a novel mechanism by which normal cells could sense external mechanical cues and restrict their proliferation in a microenvironment that promotes tumor progression.

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