Tumor cells progressively remodel cytoskeletal structures and reduce cellular stiffness during tumor progression, implicating the correlation between cell mechanics and malignancy. However, the roles of tumor cell cytoskeleton and the mechanics in tumor progression remain incompletely understood. We report that softening/stiffening tumor cells by targeting actomyosin promotes/suppresses self-renewal in vitro and tumorigenic potential in vivo. Weakening/strengthening actin cytoskeleton impairs/reinforces the interaction between adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and β-catenin, which facilitates β-catenin nuclear/cytoplasmic localization. Nuclear β-catenin binds to the promoter of Oct4, which enhances its transcription that is crucial in sustaining self-renewal and malignancy. These results demonstrate that the mechanics of tumor cells dictate self-renewal through cytoskeleton–APC–Wnt/β-catenin–Oct4 signaling, which are correlated with tumor differentiation and patient survival. This study unveils an uncovered regulatory role of cell mechanics in self-renewal and malignancy, and identifies tumor cell mechanics as a hallmark not only for cancer diagnosis but also for mechanotargeting.

Powders with a phase composition including syngenite (K₂Ca(SO₄)₂·H₂O) and/or calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum, CaSO₄·2H₂O) were synthesized from the powder of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and water solutions of potassium hydrosulfate (KHSO₄) of various concentrations (0.5 M, 1 M, and 2 M). A molar ratio of starting salts, KHSO₄/CaCO₃ = 2, was used to provide the formation of syngenite (K₂Ca(SO₄)₂·H₂O). But when using a 0.5 M water solution of potassium hydrosulfate (KHSO₄), the phase composition of the synthesized powder was presented by calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum, CaSO₄·2H₂O). When using 1 M and 2 M water solutions of potassium hydrosulfate (KHSO₄), the syngenite (K₂Ca(SO₄)₂·H₂O) was found as the predominant phase in synthesized powders. According to estimations made from thermal analysis data, powders synthesized using 1.0 M and 2.0 M water solutions of potassium hydrosulfate (KHSO₄) contained no more than 7.9 and 1.9 mass % of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum, CaSO₄·2H₂O), respectively. The phase composition of products isolated from mother liquors via water evaporation consisted of syngenite (K₂Ca(SO₄)₂·H₂O) and potassium sulfate (arcanite, K₂SO₄). Synthesized powders can be used in preparation of biocompatible bioresorbable materials with phase compositions in the K₂O-CaO-SO₃-H₂O system; as matrix of thermo- or photo-luminescent materials; as components reducing the setting time and increasing the strength of sulfate cements; in the fertilizing industry; and also as components of Martian regolith simulants.

Powders with phase composition including syngenite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O and/or calcium sulfate di-hydrate (gypsum) CaSO4·2H2O were synthesized from powder of calcium carbonate CaCO3 and water solutions of potassium hydrosulfate KHSO4 of various (0.5M, 1M and 2M) concentrations. Molar ratio of starting salt KHSO4/CaCO3=2 were used to provide formation of syngenite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O. But when using 0.5M water solution of potassium hydrosulfate KHSO4 the phase composition of synthesized powder was presented by calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) CaSO4·2H2O. When using 1M and 2M water solution of potassium hydrosulfate KHSO4 the syn-genite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O was found as predominant phase in synthesized powders. According es-timations made from thermal analysis data when 1.0M and 2.0M water solutions of potassium hydrosulfate KHSO4 were used the content of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) CaSO4·2H2O in these powders were not higher then as 7.9 and 1.9 % respectively. Phase composition of products isolated from mother liquors via water evaporation consisted of syngenite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O and potassium sulfate (arcanite) K2SO4. Synthesized powders can be used in preparation of biocom-patible bioresorbable materials with phase composition in the K2O‑CaO‑SO3‑H2O system; as matrix of thermo- or photo-luminescent materials; as components reducing the setting time and increasing strength of sulfate cements; in the fertilizing industry and also as a components of Martian regolith simulant.