Emerging of fractal geometry on surface of human cervical epithelial cells during progression towards cancer.

ABSTRACT: Despite considerable advances in understanding the molecular nature of cancer, many biophysical aspects of malignant development are still unclear. Here we study physical alterations of the surface of human cervical epithelial cells during stepwise in vitro development of cancer (from normal to immortal (premalignant), to malignant). We use atomic force microscopy to demonstrate that development of cancer is associated with emergence of simple fractal geometry on the cell surface. Contrary to the previously expected correlation between cancer and fractals, we find that fractal geometry occurs only at a limited period of development when immortal cells become cancerous; further cancer progression demonstrates deviation from fractal. Because of the connection between fractal behaviour and ch

SUBMITTER: Dokukin ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4380278 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature