Differentiation between single bladder cancer cells using principal component analysis of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.

Time-of-flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) mass spectra measurements combined with an appropriate sample preparation protocol are the powerful tools to obtain unique information about the chemical composition of biological materials. In our studies, two questions were addressed, i.e.

Nano-characterization of two closely related melanoma cell lines with different metastatic potential.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma is one of the most lethal types of skin cancer. Its progression passes through several steps, leading to the appearance of a new population of cells with aggressive biological potential. Here, we focused on the nano-characterization of two different melanoma cell lines with similar morphological appearance but different metastatic potential, namely, WM115 from vertical growth phase (VGP) and WM266-4 derived from metastasis to skin.

Cancer cell recognition--mechanical phenotype.

The major characteristics of cancer metastasis is the ability of the primary tumor cells to migrate by way of the blood or lymph vessels and to form tumors at multiple, distant sites. There are evidences that cancer progression is characterized by disruption and/or reorganization of cytoskeleton (i.e.

Cancer cell detection in tissue sections using AFM.

Currently, cancer diagnosis relies mostly on morphological examination of exfoliated, aspirated cells or surgically removed tissue. As long as standard diagnosis is concerned, this classical approach seems to be satisfactory. In the recent years, cancer progression has been shown to be accompanied by alterations in mechanical properties of cells.