Amoeboid-mesenchymal migration plasticity promotes invasion only in complex heterogeneous microenvironments.

ABSTRACT: During tissue invasion individual tumor cells exhibit two interconvertible migration modes, namely mesenchymal and amoeboid migration. The cellular microenvironment triggers the switch between both modes, thereby allowing adaptation to dynamic conditions. It is, however, unclear if this amoeboid-mesenchymal migration plasticity contributes to a more effective tumor invasion. We address this question with a mathematical model, where the amoeboid-mesenchymal migration plasticity is regulated in response to local extracellular matrix resistance. Our numerical analysis reveals that extracellular matrix structure and presence of a chemotactic gradient are key determinants of the model behavior. Only in complex microenvironments, if the extracellular matrix is highly heterogeneous and a chemotac

SUBMITTER: Talkenberger K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5569097 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature