Biological materials such as extracellular matrix scaffolds, cancer cells, and tissues are
often assumed to respond elastically for simplicity; the viscoelastic response is quite
commonly ignored. Extracellular matrix mechanics including the viscoelasticity has turned
out to be a key feature of cellular behavior and the entire shape and function of healthy and
diseased tissues, such as cancer. The interference of cells with their local
microenvironment and the interaction among different cell types relies both on the
mechanical phenotype of each involved element. However, there is still not yet clearly
understood how viscoelasticity alters the functional phenotype of the tumor extracellular
matrix environment. Especially the biophysical technologies are still under ongoing
improvement and further development. In addition, the effect of matrix mechanics in
the progression of cancer is the subject of discussion. Hence, the topic of this review is
especially attractive to collect the existing endeavors to characterize the viscoelastic
features of tumor extracellular matrices and to briefly highlight the present frontiers in
cancer progression and escape of cancers from therapy. Finally, this review article
illustrates the importance of the tumor extracellular matrix mechano-phenotype,
including the phenomenon viscoelasticity in identifying, characterizing, and treating
specific cancer types.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:84513 |
Date | 03 April 2023 |
Creators | Mierke, Claudia Tanja |
Publisher | Frontiers Research Foundation |
Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
Language | English |
Detected Language | English |
Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion, doc-type:article, info:eu-repo/semantics/article, doc-type:Text |
Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
Relation | 2296-634X, 785138 |
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