The 3D architecture of tissues bearing tumors impacts on the mechanical microenvironment
of cancer, the accessibility of stromal cells, and the routes of invasion. A myriad of intrinsic …

Cancer cells exist in a constantly evolving tissue microenvironment of diverse cell types
within a proteinaceous extracellular matrix. As tumors evolve, the physical forces within this …

BACKGROUND Historically, cancer has been considered a disease of the cell, caused by
mutations in genes that control proliferation, differentiation, and death. In recent decades …

Biomechanical regulation of tumor phenotypes have been noted for several decades, yet the
function of mechanics in the co-evolution of the tumor epithelium and altered cancer …

Highlights•Physical cues from the tumor microenvironment strongly affect cancer cell
behavior.•Novel techniques increasingly help to capture those cues in vitro.•Mechanisms for …

The physical sciences and engineering have introduced novel perspectives into the study of
cancer through model systems, tools, and metrics that enable integration of basic science …

The minimal structural unit of a solid tumor is a single cell or a cellular compartment such as
the nucleus. A closer look inside the cells reveals that there are functional compartments or …

As tumor cells metastasize from the primary tumor location to a distant secondary site, they
encounter an array of biologically and physically heterogeneous microenvironments. While …

The importance of the tumor microenvironment in cancer progression is indisputable, yet a
key component of the microenvironment—biomechanical forces—remains poorly …

The mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment have been increasingly
recognized as potent modulators of cell behavior and function. In particular, tissue rigidity is …