A microscopic obstacle course hints at how disorder may prime tumor cells for invasion
Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria have developed a microfluidic model to study how disordered environments influence tumor cell invasion. The study suggests that the physical microenvironment surrounding cancer cells may play a more significant role in metastasis than previously understood.
Why it matters
Understanding the physical drivers of metastasis could lead to new therapeutic strategies that target the tumor microenvironment rather than just genetic mutations.
by Institute of Science and Technology Austria
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Specially designed microfluidic chips on a silicon wafer. Credit: Saren Tasciyan / ISTA In 2024, malignant tumors caused more than 21,300 deaths in Austria, 4.7% more than in 2014. Faced with a similarly pressing global challenge, scientists are striving to better understand what drives cancer cells to grow, spread and invade healthy tissue.
In Science Advances , a team at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) now offers new clues : Using a simplified model, the researchers show how a chaotic environment around tumor cells can promote their invasive behavior. This theoretical concept will need to be examined further in real tumor tissue.
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