Physical pressure inside tumors can force cancer cells to dramatically change their behavior, according to new research published in Nature. When squeezed into tight spaces, melanoma cells switch from rapid growth to a more invasive, drug-resistant state.  The study, conducted by researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Ludwig Oxford, used zebrafish with melanoma to observe how cancer cells respond to physical confinement. They found that instead of continuing to multiply quickly, confined cancer cells activate what’s called a “neuronal invasion program” that helps them spread into surrounding tissues.  “Cancer cells can rapidly switch between different states, depending on … Continue reading Squeezed Cancer Cells Become More Invasive, Less Treatable