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. 2012 Feb 28;7(2):e32572. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032572

Figure 2. Increased matrix stiffness contributes to increased force generation.

Figure 2

Net traction force (|F|) increases with increasing substrate stiffness (E = 1–10 kPa) for (A) MCF10A non-metastatic mammary epithelial cells and MDAMB231 metastatic cancer cells, (B) PrEC non-metastatic primary prostate epithelial cells and PC3 metastatic prostate cancer cells, and (C) BEAS2B non-metastatic bronchial epithelial cells and A549 metastatic lung cancer cells. Ligand density is maintained at 0.1 mg/mL collagen I. 5 kPa data is from Figure 1. Note also that the metastatic cancer cells (black) exert greater forces than non-metastatic cells (white) at all matrix stiffness levels studied. Mean+SEM; * indicates p<0.05; *** indicates p<0.001.