The Impact of Simulated Microgravity on Mice With Breast Cancer

Exposure to microgravity induces significant changes in the morphology and biological properties of cancer cells. Globally, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Increasing resistance to conventional cancer treatments has emerged as a critical challenge, prompting researchers to explore novel anti-cancer strategies to enhance cancer cell death. This study aimed to evaluate the response of breast cancer cells to simulated microgravity. In this experiment, 20 mice carrying the 4T1 breast cancer cell line were randomly divided into groups of 10. The experimental groups included a normal gravity condition and a simulated microgravity condition. Mice were tested over a 30-day period, during which tumor growth was measured every three days using a digital caliper. The number of casualties was recorded daily. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed, and the final tumor size was measured. The results demonstrated that simulated microgravity significantly inhibited tumor growth over the 30 days compared to the control group under normal gravity. Furthermore, the group exposed to simulated microgravity exhibited the highest survival rate, whereas the control group recorded the lowest. These findings suggest that simulated microgravity effectively reduces tumor progression and enhances survival in mice with breast cancer. Investigating cancer under microgravity conditions may offer valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying tumor progression and resistance, potentially leading to the development of novel treatment approaches.