Deciphering mechanical cues in the microenvironment: from non-malignant settings to tumor progression.

ABSTRACT: The tumor microenvironment functions as a dynamic and intricate ecosystem, comprising a diverse array of cellular and non-cellular components that precisely orchestrate pivotal tumor behaviors, including invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. While unraveling the intricate interplay between the tumor microenvironment and tumor behaviors represents a tremendous challenge, recent research illuminates a crucial biological phenomenon known as cellular mechanotransduction. Within the microenvironment, mechanical cues like tensile stress, shear stress, and stiffness play a pivotal role by activating mechanosensitive effectors such as PIEZO proteins, integrins, and Yes-associated protein. This activation initiates cascades of intrinsic signaling pathways, effectively linking the physical prop

SUBMITTER: Zhu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11755887 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature