title: Comparison of mechanical properties of normal and malignant thyroid cells.
abstract: Cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell proliferation causing approximately 13% of deaths worldwide. Cancer cell mechanics is currently an important topic of investigation in cancer diagnostics as a possible tool to distinguish malignant cells from normal cells in addition to increasing our understanding of pathophysiology of the disease. Our study, based on Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) measurements on cells, shows that malignant thyroid cells are 3- to 5-fold softer in comparison to primary normal thyroid cells depending on duration between cell seeding and AFM experiments. These results reveal cultivation period as an important factor that influences cell mechanics and which must be considered when comparing cells. Investigation of actin cytoskeleton by fluorescent labelling revealed differences in organization of actin between malignant and normal thyroid cells, which may be directly contributing to alteration of cell mechanics in cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics, University of Bremen, Otto-Hahn Allee, D-28359 Bremen, Germany. meenakshiprabhune@gmail.com
authors.forename: Meenakshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prabhune
authors.forename: Gazanfer
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belge
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dotzauer
authors.forename: Jörn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bullerdiek
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radmacher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D048430:Cell Shape; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004548:Elasticity; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins