Cancer cell migration in 3D biological matrices

Speaker : Prof Ben Fabry – Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Venue    : Thu 18 Aug 2016, 4pm (Murdoch University, Senate Conference Room)

In cancer metastasis and other physiological processes, cells that migrate through the 3-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix of the connective tissue must overcome the steric hindrance posed by small pores. It is currently assumed that low cell stiffness promotes cell migration through confined spaces. In my talk I will present data showing that a host of other factors such as adhesion and traction forces may be at least equally important. I will also present new assays that we recently developed to quantify cell migration and traction forces in 3D matrices.