Figure. 49.

Cell biomechanics could be very useful for cancer diagnosis, e.g. using the optical stretcher, illustrated in (A). Average deformation and relaxation curves of benign cells and breast tumor cells from early and late stage tumors (G1 and G3) are shown in (B). With increasing tumor aggressiveness, the cells become more compliant. Despite the higher deformability, i.e. weaker elastic strength, late stage tumor cells show a stronger relaxation behavior. This relaxation behavior of softer tumor cells can only be explained by increased cell contractility since the passive viscoelastic properties only permit a weaker relaxation behavior. Illustration in (A) by courtesy of Steve Pawlizak, data in (B) kindly provided by Franziska Wetzel.