Liver Tumor-Initiating Cells Initiate the Formation of a Stiff Cancer Stem Cell Microenvironment Niche by Secreting LOX

Scientists reported that the voltage-gated calcium channel α2δ1 subunit-positive tumor-initiating cells of hepatocellular carcinoma specifically secreted LOX, which led to the crosslinking of collagen, forming a stiff extracellular matrix that was sufficient to drive the formation of tumor-initiating cells with a stiff mechanical trait.