A turning point in cancer progression is metastasis, where cells break away from the primary tumor and travel throughout the body to colonize other tissues. Unlike lab-grown cells, which are nurtured in a watery solution, cancer cells in real life encounter resistance as they move through bodily fluids. Previous studies have shown how, counterintuitively, cells pick up the pace as they move through thicker solutions. However, the experiments used fluids far more viscous than those found in the body.
Now, a study published on November 2 in Nature reveals that cancer cells detect and respond to physiological levels of viscosity. In syrupy surroundings, cells trigger changes in their cellular architecture that help them overcome external forces and migrate more efficiently. They even appear to hold a memory of viscosity, continuing to move rapidly when returned to a watery medium.
“This is exciting research that adds viscosity to the list of ...
