Membrane to Cortex Attachment Determines Different Mechanical Phenotypes in LGR5+ and LGR5- Colorectal Cancer Cells

Using colorectal cancer patient-derived organoids, investigators found that compared to LGR5- cells, LGR5+ cancer stem cells were stiffer, adhered better to the extracellular matrix, moved slower both as single cells and clusters, displayed higher nuclear YAP, showed a higher survival rate in response to mechanical confinement, and form larger transendothelial gaps.