Youngs's modulus of tumour tissue from an in vivo breast cancer model - effect of treatment with guluronate oligosaccharides

Abstract

Increased tissue stiffness is a classic characteristic of solid tumours, and breast tumours are often first identified as a palpable lump. Increased tissue stiffness in tumours is more than just a typical, and often easily identifiable, consequence of tumour development. Rather, elevated tissue stiffness activates tumourigenic pathways, directly contributing to increased proliferation and survival, and even altering the tumour response to therapy. As such therapeutic interventions that reduce tumour stiffness may be of benefit in treating solid tumours. We have utilized texture analysis to determine the Young’s modulus of tumour tissue from two orthotopic syngeneic in vivo mouse models of breast cancer (67NR and 4T1) and the effect of treatment with guluronate oligosaccharides at a dose of 25mg/kg IP on tumour stiffness in these models. 4T1 is a more aggressive tumour type than 67NR and showed a significantly higher Young’s modulus. Treatment with guluronate oligomers resulted in a significant reduction in Young’s modulus in the 67NR model and a reduction that did not reach significance in the 4T1 model, alongside significantly reduced tumour growth in both models suggesting guluronate oligosaccharides may have potential in cancer therapy.