Biomechanical properties of chromatin in cancer and normal cells

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Chromatin composition and organization define genome function in eukaryotes, and it is disrupted severely in several types of solid tumors. We developed with NCATS a method to profile 3D bio-printed brain cancer tissue mimicking the tumor microenvironment in vivo, and traditional 2D culture to study the mechanical properties and chromatin mechanoresponses using atomic force microscopy, immunofluorescence staining, and other biochemical assays. Over the last fiscal year, we found that treatment of specific chemotherapy drugs differentially alters tissue stiffness, potentially leading to altered chromatin composition and affecting tumor killing outcomes. Our study aims to provide the first model of the interactions between chromatin mechanoresponses, tumor microenvironment, and drug response in glioblastoma. nfortunately, the postdoctoral fellow who worked on this project had to leave the country abruptly as his visa situation could not resolved in time and the current funding situation has led to a hiring freeze, so we are currently placing this project on hold. Other parts of this projects are being continued, probing changes in chromosome elasticity and breakage from human cancer cells using highly innovative Atomic Force Microscopy approaches.