The effects of porosity and stiffness of genipin cross-linked egg white simulating aged extracellular matrix on proliferation and aggregation of ovarian cancer cells.

Cancer is closely associated with aging of the body. Aging of the extracellular matrix (ECM) leads to a fibrotic microenvironment and increasing stiffness of ECM. In this study, the porosity and stiffness were advantageous to the proliferation and aggregation of ovarian SKOV-3 cancer cells. Both the porosity and stiffness increase could lead to enhancement of proliferation and aggregation of ovarian SKOV-3 cancer cells. Further studies aimed at preventing tumoral invasion and metastasis should focus on drugs that can prevent age-induced degenerative changes in the ECM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]