Toward innovative approaches for exploring the mechanically regulated tumor-immune microenvironment
Within the complex tumor microenvironment, cells experience mechanical cues—such as extracellular matrix stiffening and elevation of solid stress, interstitial fluid pressure, and fluid shear stress—that significantly impact cancer cell behavior and immune responses. Recognizing the significance of...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AIP Publishing LLC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | APL Bioengineering |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0183302 |
| _version_ | 1797228339376685056 |
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| author | Maria Kalli Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos |
| author_facet | Maria Kalli Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos |
| author_sort | Maria Kalli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Within the complex tumor microenvironment, cells experience mechanical cues—such as extracellular matrix stiffening and elevation of solid stress, interstitial fluid pressure, and fluid shear stress—that significantly impact cancer cell behavior and immune responses. Recognizing the significance of these mechanical cues not only sheds light on cancer progression but also holds promise for identifying potential biomarkers that would predict therapeutic outcomes. However, standardizing methods for studying how mechanical cues affect tumor progression is challenging. This challenge stems from the limitations of traditional in vitro cell culture systems, which fail to encompass the critical contextual cues present in vivo. To address this, 3D tumor spheroids have been established as a preferred model, more closely mimicking cancer progression, but they usually lack reproduction of the mechanical microenvironment encountered in actual solid tumors. Here, we review the role of mechanical forces in modulating tumor- and immune-cell responses and discuss how grasping the importance of these mechanical cues could revolutionize in vitro tumor tissue engineering. The creation of more physiologically relevant environments that better replicate in vivo conditions will eventually increase the efficacy of currently available treatments, including immunotherapies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:55:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f25b9344b9d14a579dfd578cd6f48ce7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2473-2877 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:55:07Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | AIP Publishing LLC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | APL Bioengineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-f25b9344b9d14a579dfd578cd6f48ce72024-04-02T19:38:08ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Bioengineering2473-28772024-03-0181011501011501-1810.1063/5.0183302Toward innovative approaches for exploring the mechanically regulated tumor-immune microenvironmentMaria Kalli0Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos1Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, CyprusCancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, CyprusWithin the complex tumor microenvironment, cells experience mechanical cues—such as extracellular matrix stiffening and elevation of solid stress, interstitial fluid pressure, and fluid shear stress—that significantly impact cancer cell behavior and immune responses. Recognizing the significance of these mechanical cues not only sheds light on cancer progression but also holds promise for identifying potential biomarkers that would predict therapeutic outcomes. However, standardizing methods for studying how mechanical cues affect tumor progression is challenging. This challenge stems from the limitations of traditional in vitro cell culture systems, which fail to encompass the critical contextual cues present in vivo. To address this, 3D tumor spheroids have been established as a preferred model, more closely mimicking cancer progression, but they usually lack reproduction of the mechanical microenvironment encountered in actual solid tumors. Here, we review the role of mechanical forces in modulating tumor- and immune-cell responses and discuss how grasping the importance of these mechanical cues could revolutionize in vitro tumor tissue engineering. The creation of more physiologically relevant environments that better replicate in vivo conditions will eventually increase the efficacy of currently available treatments, including immunotherapies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0183302 |
| spellingShingle | Maria Kalli Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos Toward innovative approaches for exploring the mechanically regulated tumor-immune microenvironment APL Bioengineering |
| title | Toward innovative approaches for exploring the mechanically regulated tumor-immune microenvironment |
| title_full | Toward innovative approaches for exploring the mechanically regulated tumor-immune microenvironment |
| title_fullStr | Toward innovative approaches for exploring the mechanically regulated tumor-immune microenvironment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toward innovative approaches for exploring the mechanically regulated tumor-immune microenvironment |
| title_short | Toward innovative approaches for exploring the mechanically regulated tumor-immune microenvironment |
| title_sort | toward innovative approaches for exploring the mechanically regulated tumor immune microenvironment |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0183302 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariakalli towardinnovativeapproachesforexploringthemechanicallyregulatedtumorimmunemicroenvironment AT triantafyllosstylianopoulos towardinnovativeapproachesforexploringthemechanicallyregulatedtumorimmunemicroenvironment |