Mechanical Cues in Cancer Metastasis

Abstract:In order to understand the precise mechanisms used by cancer cells to transmigrate through blood vessels (covered by endothelial cells), physical experiments and models are designed to investigate such processes. In particular, two different techniques are presented: (1) traction force microscopy (TFM) allows us to measure forces exerted by cells during migration on a deformable substrate, and (2) Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) will be used for the investigation of receptor-ligand bonds between cancer cells and endothelial cells. It may alternatively act as a probe to measure local cell rheology by dynamic indentation. This allows us to obtain elastic and viscous cell component responses. Cells of different invasiveness are thus chosen so that such methods can possibly help differentiate cells with respect to their metastatic potential.
Speaker:Claude Verdier works as a 1st class Research Director at Le Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) at the Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Physics (LIPhy) in Grenoble, France, where his group focuses on cell mechanics. He also heads a national research group on biomechanics and is President of the mechanics sector at the national committee at CNRS.Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences, Earth Sciences Building, Room 4176, 2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC