The ‘Yin and Yang’ of Cancer Cell Growth and Mechanosensing
In cancer, two unique and seemingly contradictory behaviors are evident: on the one hand, tumors are typically stiffer than the tissues in which they grow, and this high stiffness promotes their malignant progression; on the other hand, cancer cells are anchorage-independent—namely, they can survive...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/19/4754 |
| _version_ | 1797516709611962368 |
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| author | Malak Amer Lidan Shi Haguy Wolfenson |
| author_facet | Malak Amer Lidan Shi Haguy Wolfenson |
| author_sort | Malak Amer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In cancer, two unique and seemingly contradictory behaviors are evident: on the one hand, tumors are typically stiffer than the tissues in which they grow, and this high stiffness promotes their malignant progression; on the other hand, cancer cells are anchorage-independent—namely, they can survive and grow in soft environments that do not support cell attachment. How can these two features be consolidated? Recent findings on the mechanisms by which cells test the mechanical properties of their environment provide insight into the role of aberrant mechanosensing in cancer progression. In this review article, we focus on the role of high stiffness on cancer progression, with particular emphasis on tumor growth; we discuss the mechanisms of mechanosensing and mechanotransduction, and their dysregulation in cancerous cells; and we propose that a ‘yin and yang’ type phenomenon exists in the mechanobiology of cancer, whereby a switch in the type of interaction with the extracellular matrix dictates the outcome of the cancer cells. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:05:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4355a780f8814dd19d64c58a4ee3e8eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:05:37Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-4355a780f8814dd19d64c58a4ee3e8eb2023-11-22T15:51:53ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942021-09-011319475410.3390/cancers13194754The ‘Yin and Yang’ of Cancer Cell Growth and MechanosensingMalak Amer0Lidan Shi1Haguy Wolfenson2Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, IsraelDepartment of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, IsraelDepartment of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, IsraelIn cancer, two unique and seemingly contradictory behaviors are evident: on the one hand, tumors are typically stiffer than the tissues in which they grow, and this high stiffness promotes their malignant progression; on the other hand, cancer cells are anchorage-independent—namely, they can survive and grow in soft environments that do not support cell attachment. How can these two features be consolidated? Recent findings on the mechanisms by which cells test the mechanical properties of their environment provide insight into the role of aberrant mechanosensing in cancer progression. In this review article, we focus on the role of high stiffness on cancer progression, with particular emphasis on tumor growth; we discuss the mechanisms of mechanosensing and mechanotransduction, and their dysregulation in cancerous cells; and we propose that a ‘yin and yang’ type phenomenon exists in the mechanobiology of cancer, whereby a switch in the type of interaction with the extracellular matrix dictates the outcome of the cancer cells.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/19/4754mechanosensinganchorage-independencerigidity sensingtumor stiffnessECM |
| spellingShingle | Malak Amer Lidan Shi Haguy Wolfenson The ‘Yin and Yang’ of Cancer Cell Growth and Mechanosensing Cancers mechanosensing anchorage-independence rigidity sensing tumor stiffness ECM |
| title | The ‘Yin and Yang’ of Cancer Cell Growth and Mechanosensing |
| title_full | The ‘Yin and Yang’ of Cancer Cell Growth and Mechanosensing |
| title_fullStr | The ‘Yin and Yang’ of Cancer Cell Growth and Mechanosensing |
| title_full_unstemmed | The ‘Yin and Yang’ of Cancer Cell Growth and Mechanosensing |
| title_short | The ‘Yin and Yang’ of Cancer Cell Growth and Mechanosensing |
| title_sort | yin and yang of cancer cell growth and mechanosensing |
| topic | mechanosensing anchorage-independence rigidity sensing tumor stiffness ECM |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/19/4754 |
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