Cells breaking away from tumors and invading the extracellular matrix are critical processes in cancer metastasis. We aim to study how changes in the physical properties of the extracellular environment — such as those observed in aging, fibrosis, diabetes, and obesity — impact the likelihood of tumor cells detaching and invading surrounding tissues, ultimately seeking to uncover potential therapeutic targets to inhibit cancer spread.

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Fibrous nonlinear elasticity enables positive mechanical feedback between cells and ECMs

MS Hall, F Alisafaei, E Ban, X Feng, CY Hui, VB Shenoy, M Wu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 2016

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