Matrix mechanics modulate breast cancer plasticity
Presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Meeting 2026
Chantal Kopecky1, Morgan Hamon2+, Elvis Pandzic3, Sean Porazinski2, Justin Gooding1 and Kristopher A. Kilian1,4*
1. School of Chemistry, Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, Faculty of Science, UNSW Sydney, Australia
2. Inventia Life Science, Sydney, Australia. + Presenting author.
3. Katharina Gaus Light Microscopy Facility, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, UNSW Sydney, Australia
4. School of Material Science & Engineering, Faculty of Science, UNSW Sydney, Australia
* Corresponding author: k.kilian@unsw.edu.au
Matrix stiffness plays a central role in breast cancer plasticity, drug resistance, and tumour behaviour. This study used the RASTRUM™ Allegro platform to create 3D bioprinted breast cancer models with defined mechanical properties, enabling controlled investigation of how the physical microenvironment shapes phenotype and treatment response.
The results showed that soft matrices enriched stem-like, drug-resistant cell states, while stiff matrices promoted a different adaptive phenotype and altered response to doxorubicin. This workflow provides a reproducible and physiologically relevant platform for studying tumour plasticity and improving the translational value of therapeutic response studies.