The implementation of novel analytic methodologies in cancer and biomedical research has enabled the quantification of parameters that were previously disregarded only a few decades ago. A notable example of this paradigm shift is the widespread integration of atomic force microscopy (AFM) into biomedical laboratories, significantly advancing our understanding of cancer cell biology and treatment response. AFM allows for the meticulous monitoring of different parameters at the molecular and nanoscale levels, encompassing critical aspects such as cell morphology, roughness, adhesion, stiffness, and elasticity. These parameters can be systematically investigated in correlation with specific cell treatment, providing important insights into morpho-mechanical properties during normal and treated conditions. The resolution of this system holds the potential for its systematic adoption in clinics; its application could produce useful diagnostic information regarding the aggressiveness of cancer and the efficacy of treatment. This review endeavors to analyze the current literature, underscoring the pivotal role of AFM in biomedical research, especially in cancer cases, while also contemplating its prospective application in a clinical context.
在癌症与生物医学研究领域，新型分析方法的运用使得数十年前尚被忽视的诸多参数得以实现量化测量。这一范式转变的典型例证是原子力显微镜在生物医学实验室中的广泛集成，该技术显著推动了我们对癌细胞生物学特性及治疗反应的理解。原子力显微镜能够在分子与纳米尺度上精确监测细胞形态、表面粗糙度、粘附性、刚度及弹性等关键参数，并可在特定细胞处理条件下系统研究这些参数的变化规律，从而为正常状态与处理状态下细胞的形态力学特性提供重要见解。该技术体系的分辨能力为其在临床中的系统性应用创造了可能，其运用有望生成关于癌症侵袭性与治疗疗效的有效诊断信息。本文旨在梳理现有文献，着重阐述原子力显微镜在生物医学研究（特别是癌症研究）中的关键作用，并对其在临床环境中的前瞻性应用进行探讨。
Atomic Force Microscopy: A Versatile Tool in Cancer Research
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家