Nonmuscle Myosin II in cancer cell migration and mechanotransduction

Cell migration is a key step of cancer metastasis, immune-cell navigation, homing of stem cells and development. What adds complexity to it is the heterogeneity of the tissue environment that gives rise to a vast diversity of migratory mechanisms utilized by cells. A majority of cell motility mechanisms reported elsewhere largely converge in depicting the importance of the activity and complexity of actomyosin networks in the cell. In this review, we highlight the less discussed functional diversity of these actomyosin complexes and describe in detail how the major cellular actin-binding molecular motor proteins, nonmuscle myosin IIs are regulated and how they participate and mechanically reciprocate to changes in the microenvironment during cancer cell migration and tumor progression. Understanding the role of nonmuscle myosin IIs in the cancer cell is important for designing efficient therapeutic strategies to prevent cancer metastasis.

Automated summary

Cell migration is a crucial process in cancer metastasis, immune-cell navigation, stem cell homing, and development, influenced by the diverse migratory mechanisms utilized by cells due to the heterogeneity of tissue environments. The activity and complexity of actomyosin networks play a significant role in cell motility mechanisms. Understanding the regulation and function of nonmuscle myosin IIs is important for designing therapeutic strategies to inhibit cancer metastasis.