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In terms of tumor progression, cells undergo stiffening just prior to becoming malignant, capable of uncontrolled growth and migration.
Recent studies indicate that cell stiffening plays a role in promoting proliferation or metastatic growth, which is subsequently followed by stress fiber disassembly to allow cell migration.
This transition was found to coincide with the change in the levels of activity of downstream elements of the signaling pathway, such as the kinase Src, that regulate changes in the actin cytoskeleton.
As shown in the attached figure below, low Src activity promotes stress fiber assembly leading to cell stiffening, whereas high Src activity has the opposite effect allowing for cell migration.
In light of this, are there any current cancer therapies targeting actin regulation?