Uncontrolled growth in a confined space generates mechanical compressive stress within tumors, but little is known about how such stress affects tumor cell behavior. Here we show that compressive stress stimulates migration of mammary carcinoma cells. The enhanced migration is accomplished by a subset of "leader cells" that extend filopodia at the leading edge of the cell sheet. Formation of these leader cells is dependent on cell microorganization and is enhanced by compressive stress. Accompanied by fibronectin deposition and stronger cell-matrix adhesion, the transition to leader-cell phenotype results in stabilization of persistent actomyosin-independent cell extensions and coordinated migration. Our results suggest that compressive stress accumulated during tumor growth can enable coordinated migration of cancer cells by stimulating formation of leader cells and enhancing cell-substrate adhesion. This novel mechanism represents a potential target for the prevention of cancer cell migration and invasion.mechanobiology | solid stress | collective migration | metastasis

BackgroundCompressive mechanical stress produced during growth in a confining matrix limits the size of tumor spheroids, but little is known about the dynamics of stress accumulation, how the stress affects cancer cell phenotype, or the molecular pathways involved.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe co-embedded single cancer cells with fluorescent micro-beads in agarose gels and, using confocal microscopy, recorded the 3D distribution of micro-beads surrounding growing spheroids. The change in micro-bead density was then converted to strain in the gel, from which we estimated the spatial distribution of compressive stress around the spheroids. We found a strong correlation between the peri-spheroid solid stress distribution and spheroid shape, a result of the suppression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptotic cell death in regions of high mechanical stress. By compressing spheroids consisting of cancer cells overexpressing anti-apoptotic genes, we demonstrate that mechanical stress-induced apoptosis occurs via the mitochondrial pathway.Conclusions/SignificanceOur results provide detailed, quantitative insight into the role of micro-environmental mechanical stress in tumor spheroid growth dynamics, and suggest how tumors grow in confined locations where the level of solid stress becomes high. An important implication is that apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway, induced by compressive stress, may be involved in tumor dormancy, in which tumor growth is held in check by a balance of apoptosis and proliferation.

Endothelial cells (ECs) integrate signals from the local microenvironment to guide their behaviour. RhoA is involved in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) - driven angiogenesis, but its role in mechanotransduction during sprouting has not been established. Using dominant negative cell transfections in a microfluidic device that recapitulates angiogenic sprouting, we show that endothelial cells respond to interstitial flow in a RhoA-dependent manner while invading into a 3-D extracellular matrix. Furthermore, RhoA regulates flow-induced, but not VEGF gradient-5 induced tip cell filopodial extensions. Thus, RhoA pathways mediate mechanically-activated but not VEGF- induced endothelial morphogenesis.

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Uncontrolled cell proliferation of a solid tumor in a confined space not only creates oxidative stress (hypoxia), but also generates mechanical compressive stress, which can influence the tumor cells and modify their interactions with neighboring cells and the extracellular matrix. Little is known about how such compressive stress affects cancer progression. Here we show, for the first time, that externally‐applied compressive stress results in faster migration of mammary carcinoma cells. Compression induces migration of mammary carcinoma cells in a coordinated sheet, initiated by “leader cells” – single cells at the leading edge of the sheet, extending long filopodia. Accompanied by redistribution of fibronectin deposition, applied compression enhances cell‐matrix adhesion and stabilizes cell distension independent of actomyosin contractile machinery. Our results suggest that mechanical stress accumulated during tumor growth is sufficient to enhance cell‐substrate adhesion and stimulate cancer cell migration. This mechanism opens the door to a new class of targets for blocking mechanical stress pathways. Funding for this work was provided by NIH grant R01CA085140.

No abstract

Uncontrolled cell proliferation of a solid tumor in a confined space not only creates oxidative stress (hypoxia), but also generates mechanical compressive stress, which can influence the tumor cells and modify their interactions with neighboring cells and the extracellular matrix. Little is known about how such compressive stress affects cancer progression. Here we show, for the first time, that externally‐applied compressive stress results in faster migration of mammary carcinoma cells. Compression induces migration of mammary carcinoma cells in a coordinated sheet, initiated by “leader cells” – single cells at the leading edge of the sheet, extending long filopodia. Accompanied by redistribution of fibronectin deposition, applied compression enhances cell‐matrix adhesion and stabilizes cell distension independent of actomyosin contractile machinery. Our results suggest that mechanical stress accumulated during tumor growth is sufficient to enhance cell‐substrate adhesion and stimulate cancer cell migration. This mechanism opens the door to a new class of targets for blocking mechanical stress pathways. Funding for this work was provided by NIH grant R01CA085140.