title: Biomechanical profile of cancer stem-like/tumor-initiating cells derived from a progressive ovarian cancer model.
abstract: We herein report, for the first time, the mechanical properties of ovarian cancer stem-like/tumor-initiating cells (CSC/TICs). The represented model is a spontaneously transformed murine ovarian surface epithelial (MOSE) cell line that mimics the progression of ovarian cancer from early/non-tumorigenic to late/highly aggressive cancer stages. Elastic modulus measurements via atomic force microscopy (AFM) illustrate that the enriched CSC/TICs population (0.32±0.12kPa) are 46%, 61%, and 72% softer (P<0.0001) than their aggressive late-stage, intermediate, and non-malignant early-stage cancer cells, respectively. Exposure to sphingosine, an anti-cancer agent, induced an increase in the elastic moduli of CSC/TICs by more than 46% (0.47±0.14kPa, P<0.0001). Altogether, our data demonstrate that the elastic modulus profile of CSC/TICs is unique and responsive to anti-cancer treatment strategies that impact the cytoskeleton architecture of cells. These findings increase the chance for obtaining distinctive cell biomechanical profiles with the intent of providing a means for effective cancer detection and treatment control.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This novel study utilized atomic force microscopy to demonstrate that the elastic modulus profile of cancer stem cell-like tumor initiating cells is unique and responsive to anti-cancer treatment strategies that impact the cytoskeleton of these cells. These findings pave the way to the development of unique means for effective cancer detection and treatment control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA; VT MEMS Laboratory, The Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Hesam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Babahosseini
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA; VT MEMS Laboratory, The Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Alperen N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Ketene
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Foods & Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Eva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Schmelz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA. Electronic address: robec06@vt.edu.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: VT MEMS Laboratory, The Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA. Electronic address: agah@vt.edu.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Atomic force microscope; Cancer chemotherapy; Cancer stem-like/tumor-initiating cells; Cell biomechanics; Cellular differentiation