ArticleRadiation oncology (London, England)2024
Evaluating ECM stiffness and liver cancer radiation response via shear-wave elasticity in 3D culture models.
Article in Radiation oncology (London, England), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Review
- Lysyl oxidase (LOX) family proteins in extracellular matrix homeostasis: roles in disease and radiation-induced pathogenesis.Molecular biology reports · 2026Review
- Biomimetic model for the identification of distinctive microenvironmental factors in glioblastoma radiosensitivity.Clinical and translational radiation oncology · 2026Article
- Mechanobiology of the tumor microenvironment: a review of therapeutic interactions and in vitro elasticity measurement techniques.Journal of biomedical science · 2026Review
- Recapitulating the tumour microenvironment: advancing personalised radiation therapy through organoid technology.Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR · 2026Review
- Extracellular matrix stiffness in hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms and targeted therapeutic strategies.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Three-dimensional-bioprinted stiff matrix triggers PDAC radioresistance through histone H3 lysine 18 lactylation (H3K18la) potentiates RAD51 activation.Regenerative biomaterials · 2026Article
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Abstract
backgroundThe stiffness of the tumor microenvironment (TME) directly influences cellular behaviors. Radiotherapy (RT) is a common treatment for solid tumors, but the TME can impact its efficacy. In the case of liver cancer, clinical observations have shown that tumors within a cirrhotic, stiffer background respond less to RT, suggesting that the extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness plays a critical role in the development of radioresistance.
methodsThis study explored the effects of ECM stiffness and the inhibition of lysyl oxidase (LOX) isoenzymes on the radiation response of liver cancer in a millimeter-sized three-dimensional (3D) culture. We constructed a cube-shaped ECM-based millimeter-sized hydrogel containing Huh7 human liver cancer cells. By modulating the collagen concentration, we produced two groups of samples with different ECM stiffnesses to mimic the clinical scenarios of normal and cirrhotic livers. We used a single-transducer system for shear-wave-based elasticity measurement, to derive Young's modulus of the 3D cell culture to investigate how the ECM stiffness affects radiosensitivity. This is the first demonstration of a workflow for assessing radiation-induced response in a millimeter-sized 3D culture.
resultsIncreased ECM stiffness was associated with a decreased radiation response. Moreover, sonoporation-assisted LOX inhibition with BAPN (β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate) significantly decreased the initial ECM stiffness and increased RT-induced cell death. Inhibition of LOX was particularly effective in reducing ECM stiffness in stiffer matrices. Combining LOX inhibition with RT markedly increased radiation-induced DNA damage in cirrhotic liver cancer cells, enhancing their response to radiation. Furthermore, LOX inhibition can be combined with sonoporation to overcome stiffness-related radioresistance, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes for patients with liver cancer.
conclusionsThe findings underscore the significant influence of ECM stiffness on liver cancer's response to radiation. Sonoporation-aided LOX inhibition emerges as a promising strategy to mitigate stiffness-related resistance, offering potential improvements in liver cancer treatment outcomes.
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