In Situ Engineering Cancer Mask to Immobilize Tumor Cells and Block Metastasis.

This work reports a new concept of cancer mask in situ to alter the specific biological functions of cancer cells. Metastatic cancer cells are highly invasive in part due to the presence of the glycan matrix in the cell membrane. Using a rational designed bio-orthogonal reaction, we reconstructed cancer cell surface in situ by incorporating endogenous polysialic acids in the glycan matrix on the cell membrane to form a mesh-like network, called cancer mask. The network of the glycan matrix not only can immobilize cancer cells but also effectively block the stimulation of metastasis promoters to tumor cells and inhibit the formation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), causing metastatic cancer cells incarcerated. The results demonstrated a new strategy to control and even eliminate the cancer metastasis that is a major cause of treatment failure and poor patient outcome. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.