Mechanobiological evaluation of prostate cancer metastasis to bone using an in vitro prostate cancer testbed.

Prostate cancer exhibits a propensity to metastasize to the bone, which often leads to fatality. Bone metastasis is characterized by complex biochemical, morphological, pathophysiological, and genetic changes to cancer cells as they colonize at bone sites. In this study, we report the evaluation of MDA PCa2b prostate cancer cells' nanomechanical properties during the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) and during disease progression at the metastatic site. Bone-mimetic tissue-engineered 3D nanoclay scaffolds have been used to create in vitro metastatic site for prostate cancer. A significant softening of the prostate cancer cells during MET and further softening as disease progression occurs at metastasis is also reported. The significant reduction in elastic modulus of prostate cancer cells during MET was attributed to actin reorganization and depolymerization. This study provides input towards direct nanomechanical measurements to evaluate the time evolution of cells' mechanical behavior in tumors at bone metastasis site.

Journal of biomechanics. 2020 Nov 21 [Epub ahead of print]

Md Shahjahan Molla, Dinesh R Katti, Kalpana S Katti

Center for Engineered Cancer Testbeds, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58104, United States; Biomedical Engineering, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58104, United States; Materials and Nanotechnology, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58104, United States. Electronic address: ., Center for Engineered Cancer Testbeds, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58104, United States; Biomedical Engineering, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58104, United States; Materials and Nanotechnology, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58104, United States. Electronic address: ., Center for Engineered Cancer Testbeds, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58104, United States; Biomedical Engineering, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58104, United States; Materials and Nanotechnology, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58104, United States. Electronic address: .