Fig. 3 |. Diverse changes in intratumoural microenvironmental architecture and mechanical properties for different cancers.

Tumours show different extracellular matrix (ECM) patterns, and cancer cells adopt differing morphologies owing to remodelling of their cytoskeletons, plasma membrane and glycocalyx and corresponding changes in mechanical properties. Summarized here are mechanical properties and structural changes associated with three malignant, highly desmoplastic cancers: breast ductal adenocarcinoma (part a), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (part b) and ovarian cancer (part c). This illustration depicts the architectural, physical and mechanical complexities in each intratumoural microenvironment with progressively acquired changes in cancer cell behaviour and ECM architecture which can affect efficacy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments, as well as enhance tumour progression, aggression and metastasis. Question marks denote that no quantitative results were found in the scientific literature; these are currently open questions. There are currently no comprehensive studies on the material properties of human ovarian tissue comparing normal and cancerous tissue sections. Figure courtesy of Alan Hoofring.