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SUMMARY:The influence of matrix geometry and stiffness on cancer invasion 
 - Erik Sahai (Cancer Research UK\, London)
DTSTART:20130614T130000Z
DTEND:20130614T140000Z
UID:TALK45727@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Shery Huang
DESCRIPTION:The acquisition of invasive behaviour enables the tumour cells
  to move into either the surrounding tissue or the vasculature and thereby
  spread to other parts of the body. To study cell motility in tumours we p
 erform intravital multi-photon confocal imaging of tumours in anaesthetise
 d mice. Cell migration depends on the complex interplay of actin polymeris
 ation\, deformation of the plasma membrane\, actomyosin contractility\, an
 d cell-matrix adhesion. Recent work has revealed that cancer cells can use
  different migratory strategies\, particularly when challenged with comple
 x three-dimensional matrices in vivo. Further the mode of cell migration d
 etermines the sensitivity of invading cancer cells to interventions that t
 arget either regulators of actin polymerisation or actomyosin contractilit
 y. This presents a particular problem when attempting to extrapolate findi
 ngs from simple in vitro experiments to the complex matrix environments th
 at surround tumours. To address this we have developed an agent based-fini
 te element model of cell motility within different ECM topologies. This en
 ables the optimal migration strategy and response to anti-invasive agents 
 in different matrix geometries to be predicted. We then test these predict
 ions by intravital imaging of melanoma.
LOCATION:Small Lecture Theatre\, Cavendish Laboratory
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