Presentation Abstract

Session Title: Cell Mechanics & Motility II
Location: Hall C
Presentation Number: 1639-Pos
Board Number: B531
Presentation Time: 2/4/2013 1:45:00 PM
Abstract Title: THE NANOMECHANICAL SIGNATURE OF BREAST CANCER
Author Block: Marija Plodinec1, Marko Loparic1, Christophe A. Monnier1, Ellen C. Obermann2, Rosanna Zanetti-Dallenbach2, Philipp Oertle1, Janne T. Hyotyla1, Ueli Aebi1, Mohamed Bentires-Alj3, Cora-Ann Schoenenberger1, Roderick YH Lim1.
1University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, 2University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland, 3Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract Body: Cancer initiation and progression follow complex molecular and structural changes in the extracellular matrix and in the cellular architecture of living tissue. Yet, it remains poorly understood how the transformation from health to malignancy alters the mechanical properties of cells within the tumour microenvironment. Here we show using an indentation-type atomic force microscope (IT-AFM) that unadulterated human breast biopsies display distinct stiffness profiles. Correlative stiffness maps obtained on normal and benign tissues show uniform stiffness profiles that are characterized by a single distinct peak. In contrast, malignant tissues have a broad distribution resulting from tissue heterogeneity with a prominent low-stiffness peak representative of cancer cells. Similar findings are seen in specific stages of breast cancer in MMTV-PyMT transgenic mice. Further evidence obtained from the lungs of mice with late-stage tumours shows that migration and metastatic spreading is correlated to the low-stiffness of hypoxia-associated cancer cells. Overall, nanomechanical profiling by IT-AFM provides quantitative indicators in the clinical diagnostics of breast cancer with translational significance.
Commercial Relationship:   M. Plodinec: Research funded by industry grant; Funding Company Name; Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation. M. Loparic: Research funded by industry grant; Funding Company Name; Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation. C.A. Monnier: None. E.C. Obermann: None. R. Zanetti-Dallenbach: None. P. Oertle: None. J.T. Hyotyla: None. U. Aebi: None. M. Bentires-Alj: None. C. Schoenenberger: None. R.Y. Lim: Research funded by industry grant; Funding Company Name; Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation.


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