Cancer Mechanobiology

Catalog description

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Introduction to the field of mechanobiology; focus on the emerging role of mechanobiology in cancer; mechanical changes include: an increase to the mechanical stiffness of the microenvironment, an elevation in the hydrostatic pressure in the solid tumor, increase in solid compressive stresses due to uncontrolled cancer proliferation in confined environments in vivo; role of the cytoskeleton and the nucleus in mediating cancer cell responses to the mechanical microenvironment; associated signaling pathways which mediate resulting alterations to tumor cell proliferation and migration. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.