Mimicking Fibrous Topographical Features of the Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract

The fibrous extracellular matrix surrounding the tumor microenvironment remodels with various stages of cancer. The chemical and mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment can drive a malignant phenotype, increasing invasion and metastasis. The tumor microenvironment is known to be drastically different, with varying levels of changes associated with fiber density, alignment, and stiffness with cancer malignancy. Cancer cells respond to these ‘desmoplastic’ changes further by actively remodeling their environment, making the tumor increasingly malignant. Various techniques such as micropatterning, hydrogels, and fiber spinning have been developed which can mimic different aspects of the tumor microenvironment. With the help of these platforms, individual and collective tumor cell behaviors have been studied, and interesting observations have been captured involving the cell's protrusive activity, migration, forces, and genetic and molecular modifications. Here, we review the recent developments to recapitulate the fibrous tumor environment and resulting cell behavior. We emphasize the need to develop a comprehensive knowledge base of cell–fiber interactions derived from multiple platforms to advance the field of cancer mechanobiology.