ABSTRACT
The biomechanical forces applied to cancer cells have a functional role in cancer progression and tumor development. Cancer cells are exposed to these forces through their neighboring cells, extracellular matrices, or through externally applied mechanical loads in the form of compression, shear, or interstitial fluid flow shear. The cells that receive these biomechanical signals alter their responses and characteristics through changes in proliferation rate, morphogenesis, gene expression, and synthesis of proteins. These loads affect various aspects of the mechanical behavior and the response of cancer cells (such as deformation, adhesion, and migration) that are crucial mechanisms driving tumorigenesis, cancer progression, metastasis, and colonization at distal locations in the body. The objective of this chapter is to look at the overall changes in the microenvironment of tumors and cancer cells and the role played by biomechanical forces in those alterations, and to review the effects of biomechanical signals on carcinogenesis and cancer progression. To meet this objective, several theoretical models, which have been used for biomechanical studies of tumors and cancer cells, along with some experimental methods for measurement of the biomechanical properties are reviewed. Because of the critical importance of therapeutic strategies in controlling cancer progression, the roles of biomechanical forces in some treatment procedures are emphasized. The investigations of the effects of some common chemotherapy drugs on cell biomechanics (drawn from a variety of different studies) are also reviewed.
