Scott Guelcher, Vanderbilt

Three Questions:

• What characteristics unique to the bone microenvironment induce tumor cells to express osteolytic factors after the tumor becomes established in bone?
• Over what range of tissue-level mechanical properties can tumor cells respond to the rigidity of the microenvironment?
• Are tumor cells genetically programmed to metastasize to bone or are they attracted to the unique characteristics of the bone microenvironment?

Background Papers:

• Inhibition of Rho-Associated Kinase Signaling Prevents Breast Cancer Metastasis to Human Bone
• Matrix Rigidity Induces Osteolytic Gene Expression of Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells
• Extracellular Matrix Rigidity Promotes Invadopodia Activity