On the Destruction of Cancer Cells Using Laser-Induced Shock Waves: A Review on Experiments and Multiscale Computer Simulations.
On a fundamental level, cancer is a complex disease which exhibits uncontrolled cell proliferation: cancer cells, either through epigenetic alterations or mutations, overexpress oncogenes and under-express tumor suppressor genes. Hence, the cells go through the cell cycle more often, completely disregarding apoptotic signals,
resulting in an increased proliferation and uncontrolled tissue growth.
Consequently, most cancer therapies attempt to manipulate these processes either by cytostatic or cytotoxic mechanisms. For example, chemotherapy agents such as doxorubicin are considered to be cytotoxic. Therapies that target hormone-addicted cells are considered to be cytostatic.
Studies of cells’ passive viscoelasticity-based biomechanics have already led to deep insight into a cell since its mechanical properties are directly related to its function by the cytoskeleton composition and architecture.
Intracellular pathologic changes influence cytoskeleton structure and function, which makes a cell’s mechanical signature a highly sensitive marker of its health. In malignant cells the cytoskeleton devolves from an ordered and rigid structure to an irregular and compliant state, including a reduction of the cytoskeleton polymers and accessory proteins and a restructuring of the network.
The cell changes from a mature state to a replicating, motile and cancerous form. From a more general viewpoint, cytoskeleton strength and organization increase as a cell becomes more differentiated.
Radiol Open J. 2016; 1(2): 60-75. doi: 10.17140/ROJ-1-110
