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Journal Articles Biology of the Cell Year : 2017

Are cancer cells really softer than normal cells?

Abstract

Solid tumors are often first diagnosed by palpation, suggesting that the tumor is more rigid than its surrounding environment. Paradoxically, individual cancer cells appear to be softer than their healthy counterparts. In this review, we first list the physiological reasons indicating that cancer cells may be more deformable than normal cells. Next, we describe the biophysical tools that have been developed in recent years to characterize and model cancer cell mechanics. By reviewing the experimental studies that compared the mechanics of individual normal and cancer cells, we argue that cancer cells can indeed be considered as softer than normal cells. We then focus on the intracellular elements that could be responsible for the softening of cancer cells. Finally, we ask whether the mechanical differences between normal and cancer cells can be used as diagnostic or prognostic markers of cancer progression.
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Dates and versions

hal-01489167 , version 1 (14-03-2017)

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Charlotte Alibert, Bruno Goud, Jean-Baptiste Manneville. Are cancer cells really softer than normal cells?. Biology of the Cell, 2017, ⟨10.1111/boc.201600078⟩. ⟨hal-01489167⟩
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