Table 1.
Key studies of tissue mechanics in stem cell fate, development and cancer
| Force and embryogenesis | ||
|---|---|---|
| Early development | [29, 30, 32–34] | |
| Gastrulation | [35, 38–40] | |
| Organogenesis | [44–46] | |
| Force and tissue development | ||
| Vasculature | [47, 50–54] | |
| Branching morphogenesis | [57, 58, 60] | |
| Stem cell specification and maintenance | [38, 40, 48, 49, 64, 65, 84] | |
| Force and malignant transformation | ||
| Tissue fibrosis | [86–88] | |
| Breast density and cancer risk | [89, 91] | |
| Force and tumor aggression | ||
| ECM properties | [107, 108, 117, 118] | |
| Membrane | [24, 96] | |
| Contractility | [98] | |
| Force and tumor cell fate | ||
| Cancer stem cells | [120, 121, 124] | |
| Epithelial-mesenchymal transition | [40, 124, 129, 134] | |
| Tumor aggression and metastasis | [121, 124] | |
Mechanical cues direct cell fate and shape tissue development and homeostasis. Here, Hayward et al. discuss how dysregulation of tissue forces increases risk to malignancy and promotes tumor aggression, and induces a stem-like phenotype in tumor cells to drive tumor aggression and treatment resistance.