By using a novel technique, researchers have found tiny and previously undetectable ‘hot spots’ of extremely high stiffness inside breast cancer tumours. A team of McGill University researchers has found these ‘hot spots’ inside aggressive and invasive breast cancer tumours.
Their findings suggest, for the first time, that only very tiny regions of a tumour need to stiffen for metastasis to take place. Though still in its infancy, the researchers believe that their technique may prove useful in detecting and mapping the progression of aggressive cancers.
“We are now able to see these features because our approach allows us to take measurements within living, intact, 3D tissues,” said Chris Moraes, from the University’s Department of Chemical Engineering, a Canada Research Chair and senior author on a recent research paper in Nature Communications. “When…