Israeli scientists have developed a groundbreaking method to identify aggressive cancer cells — not by analyzing genes or chemical markers, but by observing how they physically interact with their environment, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced. Researchers introduced new “mechanical sensor” technology that could provide a fast, low-cost way to detect cells most likely to spread, according to TPS-IL.
The study, led by PhD student Chalom Zemmour under the mentorship of Prof. Ofra Benny from the School of Pharmacy, marks a shift in cancer diagnostics. Instead of relying solely on molecular or genetic tests, the team asked a simple question: How do cancer cells behave physically when interacting with their environment?
To answer this, researchers created specially textured surfaces patterned with microscopic particles, forming a landscape invisible to the naked eye. When cancer cells are placed on these surfaces, their behavior reveals their aggressiveness.
“More aggressive cancer cells grip the surface more strongly, swallow more of the microscopic particles, and wrap themselves around the tiny features,” Zemmour explained. “Less aggressive cells behave very differently, even though these differences are undetectable on ordinary flat laboratory surfaces.”
The findings were recently published in the peer-reviewed Materials Today Bio and also provide fresh insight into metastasis, the process by which cancer spreads. The surfaces were able to differentiate cells at different metastatic stages. Researchers observed that cancer cells temporarily lose strong adhesion after leaving the primary tumor, which may help them travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Once they reach a new site, the cells regain adhesion and mechanical activity.
“This tells us that aggressiveness is not a fixed trait, and we can have a sensitive technology to measure it,” Benny said. “It’s a functional state that can be revealed through physical behavior, not just molecular signatures.”
A major advantage of the method is its simplicity. It does not require dyes, labels, or complex genetic analysis, and the surfaces can be produced using standard laboratory techniques. They are also compatible with imaging and molecular tools already used in research and clinical labs, making the approach practical and scalable.
Because of these qualities, the technology could be used for rapid screening of cancer cell aggressiveness, studying tumor progression, drug testing, and personalized treatment. By observing how cells push, pull, and grip their surroundings, researchers may gain a more accurate picture of which tumors are truly dangerous.
“Our work shows that the mechanical interactions of cancer cells — how they move, cling, and deform — can tell us a great deal about how dangerous they are,” Benny said. “This opens a new path for cancer diagnostics that is both powerful and surprisingly simple.”
Because it is fast, simple, and label-free, the method could enable rapid screening of cancer cell aggressiveness, helping identify tumors most likely to spread and guiding treatment decisions. It also provides a powerful tool for studying metastasis, revealing how cancer cells detach, travel, and colonize new tissues.
The technique could also transform drug testing and development. By placing cancer cells on the textured surfaces, researchers can better evaluate how potential therapies affect their mechanical behavior, including adhesion, particle uptake, and shape changes.
