6.2. Unexplored aspects and potential areas for research
The interplay between cancer cells and the immune system remains an
underexplored aspect of protrusion dynamics. Investigating how
lamellipodia and filopodia influence immune cell interactions within the
tumor microenvironment could uncover novel mechanisms of immune evasion
and immune-mediated control of cancer cell invasion. The role of
extracellular vesicles (EVs) in mediating communication between cancer
cells and the tumor microenvironment is also an emerging area of
interest. Understanding how lamellipodia and filopodia contribute to the
release and uptake of EVs may unveil new dimensions of intercellular
communication that impact cancer progression and metastasis.
Additionally, the influence of mechanical forces on lamellipodia and
filopodia dynamics is an area ripe for exploration. Investigating how
physical cues, such as substrate stiffness and fluid shear stress,
modulate protrusion formation and function could provide insights into
the biomechanics of cancer cell invasion. While much of the existing
research relies on two-dimensional cell cultures, the transition to
three-dimensional models more closely mimics the in vivomicroenvironment. Examining lamellipodia and filopodia dynamics within
3D cultures or organoids can offer a more realistic representation of
cancer cell invasion, providing valuable information for translational
research [73–75].