Investigating Cellular Deformability and Blebbing in Breast Cancer Cells via Microfluidics

Cancer cells defy apoptosis and proliferate uncontrollably, with cancer stem cells driving tumor growth and metastasis. Understanding the biomechanical properties of cancer cells, such as their stiffness, deformability, and membrane blebbing, may open new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This study examines six breast cancer cell lines with different metastatic potentials, including both stem-like and non-stem-like cells. We imitate physiological conditions using microfluidic channels to assess how cells deform in response to mechanical stress. Statistical research revealed considerable differences in blebbing frequency between cell lines, with ZR-75 having the greatest rate (53%) and MDA-MB-468 having the lowest (13%). The results show that stem-like cells bleb more and are more easily deformable than less stem-like cells, implying a connection between cellular mechanics and cancer stemness. These findings suggest that targeting cancer cell mechanics could offer new approaches to early intervention and controlling metastasis.