title: Macroscopic stiffness of breast tumors predicts metastasis.
abstract: Mechanical properties of tumors differ substantially from normal cells and tissues. Changes in stiffness or elasticity regulate pro-metastatic behaviors of cancer cells, but effects have been documented predominantly in isolated cells or in vitro cell culture systems. To directly link relative stiffness of tumors to cancer progression, we combined a mouse model of metastatic breast cancer with ex vivo measurements of bulk moduli of freshly excised, intact tumors. We found a high, inverse correlation between bulk modulus of resected tumors and subsequent local recurrence and metastasis. More compliant tumors were associated with more frequent, larger local recurrences and more extensive metastases than mice with relatively stiff tumors. We found that collagen content of resected tumors correlated with bulk modulus values. These data establish that relative differences in tumor stiffness correspond with tumor progression and metastasis, supporting further testing and development of tumor compliance as a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer.
authors: 1] University of Michigan Medical School, College of Engineering, and School of Public Health. University of Michigan Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology [2].
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Fenner
authors: 1] University of Michigan Medical School, College of Engineering, and School of Public Health. University of Michigan Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology [2].
authors: Amanda C
authors: AC
authors: Stacer
authors: 1] University of Michigan Medical School, College of Engineering, and School of Public Health. University of Michigan Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering [2].
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Winterroth
authors: University of Michigan Medical School, College of Engineering, and School of Public Health. University of Michigan Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Biostatistics.
authors: Timothy D
authors: TD
authors: Johnson
authors: University of Michigan Medical School, College of Engineering, and School of Public Health. University of Michigan Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology.
authors: Kathryn E
authors: KE
authors: Luker
authors: 1] University of Michigan Medical School, College of Engineering, and School of Public Health. University of Michigan Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology [2] University of Michigan Medical School, College of Engineering, and School of Public Health. University of Michigan Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering [3] University of Michigan Medical School, College of Engineering, and School of Public Health. University of Michigan Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
authors: Gary D
authors: GD
authors: Luker
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000556:secondary*; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005260:Female; D006244:Hardness; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D013314:Stress, Mechanical