Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have conducted a study to understand the relationship between mechanical stiffness and gene expression in tumors. The findings, published in Scientific Data, shed light on how the tumor microenvironment influences cancer cell behavior.
The traditional focus of cancer research has been on how cancer cell genes change over time. This knowledge has led to the development of various therapeutic strategies, but the survival rate for cancer patients has not improved significantly. As a result, there has been a shift towards studying the tumor environment as a whole.
The researchers examined the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the most abundant non-cancerous stromal cells surrounding cancer cells. CAFs have been implicated in metastasis, but the signals involved in this process are not fully understood.
To investigate the response of CAFs to mechanical stiffness, the researchers cultured human colorectal CAFs on gels with varying levels of stiffness. They found that as the stiffness increased, there were significant changes in gene expression, signaling molecules, and biological functions.
By isolating and sequencing the RNA from the CAFs, the researchers identified differentially expressed genes and molecules that may be relevant for cancer progression. The study revealed that CAFs have the ability to sense changes in stiffness and adapt accordingly.
While previous studies have explored how cancer cells respond to different pressure conditions, this study focused specifically on CAFs. Future research will involve examining the interplay between CAFs and cancer cells to gain a comprehensive understanding of their interactions.
The significance of this study lies in its unbiased approach, which simultaneously monitored the expression of multiple genes. Researchers can utilize this work as a resource to investigate how their genes of interest respond to mechanical stiffness.
In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights into the crosstalk between cancer cells and their surrounding environment. Understanding the relationship between mechanical stiffness and gene expression in tumors will inform future therapeutic strategies for combating cancer.
Sources:
– Scientific Data (Article source)
– University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Research institution)
