Fast Label-Free Method Identifies Aggressive Cancer Cells

Distinguishing aggressive cancer cells from less dangerous ones remains a major clinical challenge, as cells with high metastatic potential often appear similar under standard laboratory conditions. Conventional genetic and molecular tests can be costly, time-consuming, and may fail to capture how likely a cancer is to spread. Metastasis depends not only on gene expression but also on how cancer cells physically interact with their surroundings. Now, a new study shows that aggressive cancer cells can be identified quickly and without labels by observing their physical behavior on specially designed surfaces.

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Jerusalem, Israel) have developed engineered meta-surfaces patterned with microscopic, immobilized plastic particles that create nano- and micro-scale topographies. These textured surfaces act as mechanical probes, allowing researchers to observe how cancer cells interact physically with their environment.

Image: Fluorescently labeled cell showing the cell body in green, the cytoskeleton in blue, the cell nucleus in yellow (Photo courtesy of Chalom Zemmour/Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology)

When cancer cells are placed on these surfaces, they encounter a complex landscape rather than a flat plane. This setup reveals differences in cell adhesion, particle internalization, and shape adaptation. The approach is label-free, does not rely on genetic manipulation or chemical markers, and is compatible with standard imaging and laboratory workflows.

Using the patterned surfaces, the researchers found that aggressive cancer cells grip the surface more strongly, engulf significantly more particles, and stretch and wrap themselves around the microscopic features. Less aggressive cells showed far weaker adhesion and minimal shape changes, despite appearing similar on conventional flat culture surfaces. These functional differences were consistently detectable using the new method.

The study also showed that cells at different stages of metastasis could be distinguished based on their mechanical behavior. Cancer cells temporarily reduced adhesion after leaving the primary tumor and regained strong mechanical interactions upon reaching new sites. The findings, published in Materials Today Bio, demonstrate that cancer aggressiveness is a dynamic functional state rather than a fixed genetic identity.

Measuring how cells physically push, pull, and adhere provides insights into metastatic potential that molecular tests alone may miss. This approach offers a fast, low-cost way to identify high-risk cancer cells and better understand the mechanics of cancer spread. In the future, the technology could support rapid screening of tumor aggressiveness, metastasis research, drug testing, and personalized treatment strategies. Because the surfaces are simple to manufacture and integrate into existing workflows, the method has clear potential for translational and clinical research applications.

“Our work shows that how cancer cells push, pull, and grip their surroundings can tell us a great deal about how dangerous they are,” said Professor Ofra Benny from the School of Pharmacy at the Hebrew University. “This opens a new path for cancer diagnostics that is both powerful and surprisingly simple.”

Related Links:
Hebrew University of Jerusalem