How stiff the tissue is affects cancer cell growth through a specific signaling pathway (Hippo) that controls whether cells multiply, which is important for tumor development.

“On a hard surface, the Hippo pathway is involved in the proliferation of tumor cells, consisting of three main components: large tumor suppressor 1/2 (LATS1/2), yes-associated transcriptional regulator/tafazzin (YAP/TAZ) and mammalian Ste20-like kinases 1/2 (MST1/2). In detail, on the stiffer matrix, the ILK-integrin signal inhibits the activity of myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 and suppresses the signaling cascade of Merlin, MST1/2, and LATS1/2, which results in the YAP/TAZ translocation to the nucleus from the cytoplasm and initiated cell proliferation gene (such as cyclin D1 and forkhead box M1) transcription, where they initiate the transcription of genes involved in tumor cell proliferation.”