The
stresses, one of the physical hallmarks of cancer, is exerted by the solid components of a tissue and accumulated within solid structural components (i.e., cells,
collagen
Collagen () is the main structural protein in the extracellular matrix of the connective tissues of many animals. It is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up 25% to 35% of protein content. Amino acids are bound together to form a trip ...
, and
hyaluronan
Hyaluronic acid (; abbreviated HA; conjugate acid, conjugate base hyaluronate), also called hyaluronan, is an anion#Anions and cations, anionic, Sulfation, nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan distributed widely throughout connective tissue, connective ...
) during growth and progression.
Solid stress in tumors is a
residual stress
In materials science and solid mechanics, residual stresses are stresses that remain in a solid material after the original cause of the stresses has been removed. Residual stress may be desirable or undesirable. For example, laser peening im ...
that is elevated because of abnormal tumor growth and resistance to growth from the surrounding normal tissues or from within the tumors. Solid stress, independent of the
interstitial fluid
In cell biology, extracellular fluid (ECF) denotes all body fluid outside the Cell (biology), cells of any multicellular organism. Body water, Total body water in healthy adults is about 50–60% (range 45 to 75%) of total body weight; women ...
pressure
Pressure (symbol: ''p'' or ''P'') is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. Gauge pressure (also spelled ''gage'' pressure)The preferred spelling varies by country and eve ...
, induces
hypoxia and impedes
drug delivery
Drug delivery involves various methods and technologies designed to transport pharmaceutical compounds to their target sites helping therapeutic effect. It involves principles related to drug preparation, route of administration, site-specif ...
by compressing
blood vessels
Blood vessels are the tubular structures of a circulatory system that transport blood throughout many animals’ bodies. Blood vessels transport blood cells, nutrients, and oxygen to most of the tissues of a body. They also take waste an ...
in tumors. Solid stress is heterogeneous in tumors with tensile stresses distributed more at the periphery of the tumor, and compressive stresses more at the tumor core.
References
* Jain R.K., "An indirect way to tame cancer", Sci Am 310(2): 46–53, 2014
* Jain R.K., J. D. Martin and T. Stylianopoulos, "The role of mechanical forces in tumor progression and therapy", Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, 16:321-46, 2014.
* Jain R.K., "Normalizing tumor microenvironment to treat cancer: bench to bedside to biomarkers", J Clin Oncol, 31(17):2205-18, 2013.
* Stylianopoulos T., J.D. Martin, M. Snuderl, F. Mpekris, S. Jain and R.K. Jain, "Coevolution of solid stress and interstitial fluid pressure in tumor during progression: Implications for vascular collapse", Cancer Research, 73(13): 3833–3841, 2013.
* Helmlinger G., P.A. Netti, H. C. Lichtenbeld, R. J. Melder, R. K. Jain, "Solid stress inhibits the growth of multicellular tumor spheroids", Nat Biotechnol 15:778-783, 1997.
Oncology
Pressure
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