The role of disease state in confined migration

Abstract

Cell migration is a fundamental process in both normal and cancerous tissues, playing a crucial role in development, immune responses, and, in the case of cancer cells, metastasis- a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Understanding the differences between healthy and cancerous cell migration is essential for uncovering potential therapeutic targets. This study aims to elucidate these differences by comparing the migratory behaviors of healthy cells (nHDF cells) and cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 cells). Our findings reveal that cancer cells significantly reduce their stiffness during migration through narrow channels, a phenomenon not observed in healthy cells. Additionally, DNA and membrane repair mechanisms are more active in healthy cells during migration compared to tumor cells. Notably, the use of MDA-MB-231 FUCCI cells demonstrates that the cell cycle profoundly influences cell migration under confined conditions. These insights provide a deeper understanding of the cellular mechanisms driving migration in both healthy and cancerous cells.