Dresden 2009 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 4: Cell Mechanics

BP 4.5: Vortrag

Montag, 23. März 2009, 15:30–15:45, HÜL 186

A Biomechanical Perspective on Cancer: From cell line to primary cells — •Kenechukwu David Nnetu, Franziska Wetzel, and Josef Käs — University of Leipzig, Institute of Experimental Physics I, Leipzig

Cancer being a fatal illness in the case of metastasis has been the subject of considerable scientific research. A vivid understanding of the microscopic changes within a cell leading to the initiation, development and spread of this disease is vital to the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The cytoskeleton of living cells behaves non-linearly by amplifying microscopic changes within the cells. These cytoskeletal changes affect cellular structures and as a result cellular functions. The cytoskeleton being the main contributor to cell mechanics allows for the probing of cell elasticity with a suitable device such the Microfluidic optical stretcher as in this case.

We therefore, report on the mechanical properties of non-tumorigenic, tumorigenic, metastatic cell lines and primary cells. It was found out that metastatic cell lines were softest while malignant but non-metastatic cell lines were softer compared to non-tumorigenic cell lines. Additionally, cell lines were found to be softer than primary cells. Furthermore, metastatic cell lines were found to be the fastest proliferating cell lines while the malignant but non-metastatic cell lines were faster compared to the non-tumorigenic cell lines. Finally, by using cytochalasin D and jasplakinolide which disrupts and stabilizes actin respectively, the cell lines were found to be softer. The cell lines were also treated with the chemotherapeutic drug taxol.