Metastasis is a complicated, multistep process that is responsible for over 90% of cancer-related death. Metastatic disease or the movement of cancer cells from one site to another requires dramatic remodeling of the cytoskeleton. The regulation of cancer cell migration is determined not only by biochemical factors in the microenvironment but also by the biomechanical contextual information provided by the extracellular matrix (ECM). The responses of the cytoskeleton to chemical signals are well characterized and understood. However, the mechanisms of response to mechanical signals in the form of externally applied force and forces generated by the ECM are still poorly understood. Furthermore, understanding the way cellular mechanosensors interact with the physical properties of the microenvironment and transmit the signals to activate the cytoskeletal movements may help identify an effective strategy for the treatment of cancer. Here, we will discuss the role of tumor microenvironment during cancer metastasis and how physical forces remodel the cytoskeleton through mechanosensing and transduction.

中文翻译：

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机械肿瘤微环境和转导：细胞骨架介导癌细胞侵袭和转移。

转移是一个复杂的多步骤过程，90% 以上的癌症相关死亡都是由转移造成的。转移性疾病或癌细胞从一个部位移动到另一个部位需要对细胞骨架进行巨大的重塑。癌细胞迁移的调节不仅取决于微环境中的生化因素，还取决于细胞外基质（ECM）提供的生物力学背景信息。细胞骨架对化学信号的反应已得到很好的表征和理解。然而，对外加力和 ECM 产生的力形式的机械信号的响应机制仍然知之甚少。此外，了解细胞机械传感器与微环境的物理特性相互作用以及传输信号以激活细胞骨架运动的方式可能有助于确定治疗癌症的有效策略。在这里，我们将讨论肿瘤微环境在癌症转移过程中的作用，以及物理力如何通过机械传感和转导重塑细胞骨架。