Abstract
Metastasis is a complex, multistep process responsible for >90% of cancer-related deaths. In addition to genetic and external environmental factors, the physical interactions of cancer cells with their microenvironment, as well as their modulation by mechanical forces, are key determinants of the metastatic process. We reconstruct the metastatic process and describe the importance of key physical and mechanical processes at each step of the cascade. The emerging insight into these physical interactions may help to solve some long-standing questions in disease progression and may lead to new approaches to developing cancer diagnostics and therapies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 512-522 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Nature Reviews Cancer |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2011 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cancer Research
- Oncology
Cite this
The physics of cancer : The role of physical interactions and mechanical forces in metastasis. / Wirtz, Denis; Konstantopoulos, K; Searson, Peter C.
In: Nature Reviews Cancer, Vol. 11, No. 7, 07.2011, p. 512-522.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The physics of cancer
T2 - The role of physical interactions and mechanical forces in metastasis
AU - Wirtz, Denis
AU - Konstantopoulos, K
AU - Searson, Peter C.
PY - 2011/7
Y1 - 2011/7
N2 - Metastasis is a complex, multistep process responsible for >90% of cancer-related deaths. In addition to genetic and external environmental factors, the physical interactions of cancer cells with their microenvironment, as well as their modulation by mechanical forces, are key determinants of the metastatic process. We reconstruct the metastatic process and describe the importance of key physical and mechanical processes at each step of the cascade. The emerging insight into these physical interactions may help to solve some long-standing questions in disease progression and may lead to new approaches to developing cancer diagnostics and therapies.
AB - Metastasis is a complex, multistep process responsible for >90% of cancer-related deaths. In addition to genetic and external environmental factors, the physical interactions of cancer cells with their microenvironment, as well as their modulation by mechanical forces, are key determinants of the metastatic process. We reconstruct the metastatic process and describe the importance of key physical and mechanical processes at each step of the cascade. The emerging insight into these physical interactions may help to solve some long-standing questions in disease progression and may lead to new approaches to developing cancer diagnostics and therapies.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79959636906&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79959636906&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/nrc3080
DO - 10.1038/nrc3080
M3 - Article
C2 - 21701513
AN - SCOPUS:79959636906
VL - 11
SP - 512
EP - 522
JO - Nature Reviews Cancer
JF - Nature Reviews Cancer
SN - 1474-175X
IS - 7
ER -