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Research Projects

Probing the role of extracellular matrix stiffness in exosome secretion and its influence on breast cancer invasion

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Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a meshwork of proteins that assimilates cells into tissue. Mechanical rigidity (stiffness) of ECM may remarkably govern cell behavior and fate in terms of morphology, cytoskeletal architecture, motility, cellular plasticity
and differentiation. Cancer progression is accompanied by ECM stiffening owing to excess deposition and crosslinking of collagen fibers. Cancer cells secrete surplus amounts of exosomes allowing fine-tuned exchange of signals to facilitate cancer progression and invasion via ECM remodeling. Conversely, exosomes production and content may be dictated by ECM properties. In this project we aim to decipher the connection between ECM mechanics and exosome secretion profile and its
consequences with respect to biophysical properties, motility and invasiveness of breast cancer cells in response to ECM stiffening.

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