Epithelial-mesenchymal transition softens head and neck cancer cells to facilitate migration in 3D environments.

ABSTRACT: The biological impact and signalling of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during cancer metastasis has been established. However, the changes in biophysical properties of cancer cells undergoing EMT remain elusive. Here, we measured, via video particle tracking microrheology, the intracellular stiffness of head and neck cancer cell lines with distinct EMT phenotypes. We also examined cells migration and invasiveness in different extracellular matrix architectures and EMT-related signalling in these cell lines. Our results show that when cells were cultivated in three-dimensional (3D) environments, the differences in cell morphology, migration speed, invasion capability and intracellular stiffness were more pronounced among different head and neck cancer cell lines with distinct EMT p

SUBMITTER: Chen YQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6050483 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature