Evaluating ECM stiffness and liver cancer radiation response via shear-wave elasticity in 3D culture models.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The stiffness of the tumor microenvironment (TME) directly influences cellular behaviors. Radiotherapy (RT) is a common treatment for solid tumors, but the TME can impact its efficacy. In the case of liver cancer, clinical observations have shown that tumors within a cirrhotic, stiffer background respond less to RT, suggesting that the extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness plays a critical role in the development of radioresistance.

Methods

This study explored the effects of ECM stiffness and the inhibition of lysyl oxidase (LOX) isoenzymes on the radiation response of liver cancer in a millimeter-sized three-dimensional (3D) culture. We constructed a cube-shaped ECM-based millimeter-sized hydrogel containing Huh7 human liver cancer cells. By modulating the collage

SUBMITTER: Lu SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11430210 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature