TABLE I.
Major performance differences between migration modes for cancer cells.
| Ameboid | Mesenchymal | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Migration speed | 2–25 μm/min | 0.1–1 μm/min | 21–23 |
| Persistence | Low | High | 24, 25 |
| Morphology | Rounded | Elongated | 23, 26 |
| ECM attachment | Weak, short term, and lower integrin expression | Integrin clusters forming focal adhesions | 23, 27 |
| Migration in ECM | Squeezing or blebbing through ECM pores | Adhesion-mediated tractions and ECM degradation | 23, 28, 29 |
| CSK organization | Actin cortex | Actin meshwork, contractile stress fibers, and microtubules | 23, 29, 30 |