title: [Analysis of the common morphological characteristics of cancerous cells using atomic force microscope].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the surface ultrastructure of different tumor cells in vivo using atomic force microscope (AFM) and analyze their common characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected 60 specimens of each of normal liver cells, liver cancer, cervical squamous cells, cervical cancer cells, ductal epithelial cells and breast cancer cells for scanning using AFM. The cell surface scan images were analyzed using image analysis software to identify their common morphological features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From normal cervical squamous epithelial cells, intermediate cells, and basal cells to HPV-infected cells, CIN2-3 cells and cervical cancer cells, the membrane surface roughness became gradually increased (P<0.05). Similarly, the surface roughness increased significantly in the order of normal liver cells, hepatitis B cirrhosis liver cells, and hepatocellular carcinoma cells (P<0.05). The average surface roughness also tended to increase from normal mammary gland cells to mammary gland hyperplasia cells and breast cancer cells (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Normal cells and tumor cells show different cell membrane morphologies, and such morphological features provide a reliable basis for clinical pathological diagnosis and differential diagnosis of malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Armed Police Forces, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Qing-ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Yue-yue
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xin-wu
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins