WP2

DC6


Quantifying biomechanical changes as a result of tumour-macrophage interaction induced by the first interaction with invading cancer cells

Objectives:

  1. Measure elastic modulus, viscosity and adhesion strength of individual prostate cancer (PCa) cells, and macrophages on matrix grown in 2D co-culture conditions.
  2. Use RHEOS (RHEology, Open-Source) software to analyse the rheological (viscoelastic) measurements and obtain the quantitative values of the mechanical behaviour in metastatic condition.
  3. Identify macrophage and matrix changes induced upon interactions with PCa cells for different age-specific patients.

Expected Results:

  1. A methodology to quantify biomechanical characteristics in co-culture conditions in 2D cell culture systems, which forms the basis for our future analysis on complex 3D organoids
  2. Understanding on how biophysical parameters in the early metastatic phase contribute for the tumour development
  3. Potential biophysical markers to detect early-stage metastatic conditions for age-specific patents