RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Atomic force microscopy reveals the mechanical properties of breast cancer bone metastases
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.06.01.446539
DO 10.1101/2021.06.01.446539
A1 Xinyue Chen
A1 Russell Hughes
A1 Nic Mullin
A1 Rhoda J. Hawkins
A1 Ingunn Holen
A1 Nicola J. Brown
A1 Jamie K. Hobbs
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/06/01/2021.06.01.446539.abstract
AB Mechanically dependent processes are essential in cancer metastases. However, reliable mechanical characterisation of metastatic cancer remains challenging whilst maintaining the tissue complexity and an intact sample. Using atomic force microscopy, we quantified the micro-mechanical properties of relatively intact metastatic breast tumours and their surrounding bone microenvironment isolated from mice, and compared with other breast cancer models both ex vivo and in vitro. A unique mechanical distribution of extremely low elastic modulus and viscosity was identified on metastatic tumours, which were significantly more compliant than both 2D in vitro cultured cancer cells and subcutaneous tumour explants. The presence of mechanically distinct metastatic tumour did not result in alterations of the mechanical properties of the surrounding microenvironment at meso-scale distances (> 200 µm). These findings demonstrate the utility of atomic force microscopy in studies of complex tissues and provide new insights into the mechanical properties of cancer metastases in bone.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.