Physics research suggests new pathways for cancer progression
Thursday, February 9, 2012 - 10:32
in Health & Medicine
Observing that certain cancer cells may exhibit greater flexibility than normal cells, some scientists believe that this capability promotes rapid tumor growth. Now computer simulations developed by Boston University Biomedical Engineering Assistant Professor Muhammad Zaman and collaborators at the University of Texas at Austin appear to support this view. A 3D model of healthy and cancer cells that they've created indicates that the softening of cancer cells not only accelerates their proliferation but also extends their lifetimea one-two punch that may trigger the rapid growth of malignant tumors.