Figure 1.

Cellular transmission and reception of mechanical signals. Cancer cells transmit mechanical signals to neighboring cells through two mechanisms. Cancer cells can directly transmit forces to adjacent cells through cell–cell adhesions, specifically adherens junctions. Cancer cells can also transmit forces to nearby cells without direct contact through cell–matrix adhesion complexes (CMACs). Increased cellular contractility allows cells to exerts forces on neighboring cells through adherens junctions or on the ECM through CMACs. Cellular forces exerted onto the ECM can remodel the ECM and induce fiber alignment. Other cells in contact with the matrix sense these changes through their CMACs, resulting in phenotypic changes.