Figure 5.

Mechanotransduction-induced phenotypic changes of cancer cells at various stages of metastasis. (1) ECM remodeling during invasion: Mechanical signals arising from the environment can alter cancer cell phenotype without affecting the genotype under several possible scenarios. Examples include extracellular matrix remodeling during invasion, which can feed back in the form of mechanical signals to regulate cancer cell phenotype. (2) Circulatory system: In the circulatory system, CTCs exist in an environment where they are exposed to mechanical signals not experienced within the local tissue (e.g., shear stress due to blood flow, the absence of a Young’s modulus, as well as a lack of cell attachment). (3) Distal metastasis: Colonization in a distal metastatic site may subject cancer cells to a different mechanical environment than the primary tumor site. Depending on local tissue stiffness of the metastatic site, cancer cells may be induced to revert to their original phenotype via mechanotransduction. To see this figure in color, go online.