Colorectal cancer cell physics contributes to tumour metastasis
A paper published in the scientific journal Nature Communications reveals how the mechanical properties of different types of colorectal cancer cells influence the process of metastasis. The study, which used tumour organoids from patient cells, focused on cancer stem cells that express the LGR5 protein, a key marker in signalling required for the renewal and differentiation of intestinal and cancer stem cells. The results revealed significant differences in mechanical properties between cells that express LGR5 (LGR5+) and those that do not (LGR5-).
A paper published in the scientific journal Nature Communications reveals how the mechanical properties of different types of colorectal cancer cells influence the process of metastasis. The study, which used tumour organoids from patient cells, focused on cancer stem cells that express the LGR5 protein, a key marker in signalling required for the renewal and differentiation of intestinal and cancer stem cells. The results revealed significant differences in mechanical properties between cells that express LGR5 (LGR5+) and those that do not (LGR5-).
The study is led by Xavier Trepat, researcher at the Department of Biomedicine of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona and ICREA research professor at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), based at the Barcelona Science Park.
The study reveals that cells that do not express LGR5 are softer, less adhesive and move more quickly, improving them so that they move from the main tumour. In contrast, cells that do express LGR5 are more able to adhere to the walls of blood vessels and form gaps that allow them to invade other tissues, which would facilitate their growth in new places in the body, potentially forming metastases. “This transition between these two cell types working together is an adaptive mechanism that helps them withstand physical changes in the microenvironment and facilitates cancer progression”, notes Xavier Trepat, who has received the Rei Jaume I Prize 2024 on biomedical research.