Presentation: 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual conference 

October 21, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo, North Dakota

Impacts of Cell-specific Parameters on Deformation of Cancer cell in Shear Flows

Abstract Cancer cells deform under shear flow in microcirculation and eventually lead to metastasis. In this study, we investigate the role the membrane elasticity, and cancer cell shape on deformation dynamics under the shear and pressure forces in a micro-channel. Using computational fluid–structure interaction simulations, complemented by Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) method, we quantify how subtle variations in these biophysical properties alter deformation indices such as sphericity and aspect ratio, and stress distributions on the membrane of the cancer cell. Results reveal that increased membrane stiffness reduces overall deformation as well as the total distance travelled. Similarly, cell geometry strongly influences flow–structure interactions: near-spherical morphologies exhibit stable deformation with minimal sensitivity to shear variations, whereas elongated geometries show pronounced orientation and stretching effects. Collectively, these findings highlight the critical importance of cell-specific heterogeneity in governing cell dynamics in microvascular flows. The insights obtained provide a mechanistic framework for understanding circulating tumor cell transport in shear-dominated environments during metastasis. Our work may inform the design of biomimetic microfluidic systems and therapeutic strategies targeting cancer cell detection and cancer prognosis.