The field of Mechanobiology is in its infancy in that we are just starting to appreciate the molecular processes used by cells to mechanically create the form of organisms. These are robust processes that use stochastic diffusion to deterministically create shapes that have been selected through billions of years of evolution (for background see The Cell as a Machine, M. Sheetz and H. Yu, Cambridge Press, 2018. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/9781107280809 [10.1017/9781107280809]). One mechanosensing process that is partially understood is the sensing of matrix rigidity. Cell rigidity sensors are roughly two micron sarcomeric structures that pull matrix contacts by a constant displacement of about 100 nm and the force then indicates the rigidity. A major role of this process is to block unwanted adult cell growth on soft surfaces; but in wound-healing, rigidity sensors are lost to enable adult cell growth. If the sensors are not restored upon healing, tumorigenic (transformed) growth on soft surfaces occurs leading to severe cancers if other factors are added such as immortality, and vascularization. Our surprising finding is that transformed cells are mechanically sensitive and will die if repeatedly stretched or exposed to ultrasound. Since nearly all tumor cells are transformed, mechanical therapies can inhibit the growth of most cancers. This provides a novel application of mechanotherapy in fighting cancer.

机械生物学领域正处于起步阶段，因为我们刚刚开始了解细胞用于机械地创造生物体形式的分子过程。这些是使用随机扩散确定性地创建经过数十亿年进化选择的形状的稳健过程（背景参见 The Cell as a Machine，M. Sheetz 和 H. Yu，剑桥出版社，2018 年。DOI http:// dx.doi.org/10.1017/9781107280809 [10.1017/9781107280809]）。一种被部分理解的机械传感过程是基质刚性的传感。细胞刚度传感器是大约 2 微米的肌节结构，通过约 100 nm 的恒定位移拉动矩阵触点，然后力指示刚度。这个过程的一个主要作用是阻止不需要的成体细胞在柔软的表面上生长；但在伤口愈合过程中，刚度传感器会丢失以促进成体细胞的生长。如果传感器在愈合后没有恢复，软表面上会发生致瘤（转化）生长，如果添加其他因素，如永生和血管化，则会导致严重的癌症。我们令人惊讶的发现是，转化细胞具有机械敏感性，如果反复拉伸或暴露在超声波下就会死亡。由于几乎所有的肿瘤细胞都发生了转化，因此机械疗法可以抑制大多数癌症的生长。这为机械疗法在抗癌中提供了一种新的应用。我们令人惊讶的发现是，转化细胞具有机械敏感性，如果反复拉伸或暴露在超声波下就会死亡。由于几乎所有的肿瘤细胞都发生了转化，因此机械疗法可以抑制大多数癌症的生长。这为机械疗法在抗癌中提供了一种新的应用。我们令人惊讶的发现是，转化细胞具有机械敏感性，如果反复拉伸或暴露在超声波下就会死亡。由于几乎所有的肿瘤细胞都发生了转化，因此机械疗法可以抑制大多数癌症的生长。这为机械疗法在抗癌中提供了一种新的应用。