Journal of Carcinogenesis & Mutagenesis

Alakesh Das

Publications

• Research Article
  Extracellular Matrix Density Regulates Extracellular Proteolysis via Modulation of Cellular Contractility
  Author(s): Alakesh Das, Aastha Kapoor, Gunjan D Mehta, Santanu K Ghosh and Shamik SenAlakesh Das, Aastha Kapoor, Gunjan D Mehta, Santanu K Ghosh and Shamik Sen
  
  The Extracellular Matrix (ECM) undergoes changes in composition and organization during tumor progression. In breast cancer, increased deposition and cross linking-induced alignment of collagen I create a stiffer microenvironment that directly contributes to cancer invasion. While ECM stiffness-induced invasion has been documented, it remains unclear if ECM density also contributes to invasion independent of ECM stiffness. In this paper, using collagen I-coated glass coverslips of varying density, we sought to study the influence of ECM density on the invasiveness of human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We first showed that cell spreading and contractility increases with ECM density. Concomitant with increase in cell contractility, matrix degradation was seen to increase with ECM density and was associated with higher invadopodia activity. The density-dependent increase in degradatio.. View More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2157-2518.S13-003

  Abstract PDF