Abstract
Despite sharing oncogenetic mutations, only a small number of cells within a given tissue will undergo malignant transformation. Biochemical and physical factors responsible for this cancer-initiation process are not well understood. Here we study biophysical differences of pre-melanoma and melanoma cells in a BRAFV600E/P53 zebrafish model. The AFM indentation technique was used to study the cancer-initiating cells while the surrounding melanocytes were the control. We observed a statistically significant decrease in the modulus of elasticity (the effective Young's modulus) of cancer-initiating cells compared to the surrounding melanocytes. No significant differences in the pericellular coat surrounding cells were observed. These results contribute to a better understanding of the factors responsible for the initiation of cancer.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 103746 |
Journal | Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials |
Volume | 107 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2020 |
Keywords
- Atomic force microscopy
- Cell mechanics
- Initiation of cancer
- Pericellular coat
- Zebrafish