Tumor Development in Ulcerative Colitis: Perspectives From Biomechanical Characteristics

Throughout our lifespan, sustaining orderly morphological structures for ensuring proper functioning of organs is imperative. Among these structures, the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a pivotal role in sustaining organ and tissue homeostasis. Nevertheless, elucidating the role of abnormal ECM-induced biomechanical microenvironmental changes associated with transition from chronic inflammation to cancer warrants further investigation. Additionally, the temporal and spatial dynamics of the extracellular environment and immune cell populations within inflammatory regions of the body remain inadequately understood. In this review, we critically present recent analytical techniques and biomechanical approaches to elucidate how the disordered distribution of cell populations, extracellular environment heterogeneity, and changes in tissue stiffness could be interrelated in the progression from ulcerative colitis to cancer.