In Vitro Cancer Metastasis Induced by Mechanical Force

Based on the American Cancer Society’s report at 2004, after 50-year’s efforts in bio-chemical medicine development, the U.S.A. cancer mortality is 193.9 per 100,000 persons, which is not significantly reduced from that at 1950, 185.8 per 100,000 persons. One critical reason for the clinical inefficacy is that it is not identified what signals trigger the onset of metastasis. 90% of cancer deaths are caused by metastases (1–6). During metastasis, malignant cancer cells detach from the parent cancer tumor to invade new organs (5–7). Although the primary tumor can be readily removed by surgery if detected in time, metastasis cannot be cured effectively due to the presence of numerous secondary tumors. Here we present, for the first time, that cancer cells can exhibit metastasis like phenotype (MLP) in vitro when they are experiencing appropriate mechanical stimuli.