Increased matrix stiffness promotes tumor progression of residual hepatocellular carcinoma after insufficient heat treatment.

ABSTRACT: Aggravated behaviors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) will occur after inadequate thermal ablation. However, its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we assessed whether the increased matrix stiffness after thermal ablation could promote the progression of residual HCC. Heat-treated residual HCC cells were cultured on tailorable 3D gel with different matrix stiffness, simulating the changed physical environment after thermal ablation, and then the mechanical alterations of matrix stiffness on cell phenotypes were explored. Increased stiffness was found to significantly promote the proliferation of the heat-treated residual HCC cells when the cells were cultured on stiffer versus soft supports, which was associated with stiffness-dependent regulation of ERK phosphorylation

SUBMITTER: Zhang R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5581508 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature