Introduction: Space exploration creates unique conditions such as radiation, circadian disruption, and especially microgravity, which significantly alters cancer cell biology. In microgravity, tumor cells change their shape, gene activity, growth, and drug responses, providing more realistic models of cancer. While some cancer cells slow their growth and undergo apoptosis, others adapt and develop resistance. Studying these diverse responses not only advances space medicine but also offers new pathways for cancer treatment on Earth.
Methods: Research on microgravity and cancer uses two main approaches: space-based experiments on the ISS and ground-based simulations with devices mimicking weightlessness. Methods include culturing different cancer cell lines, studying morphology and cytoskeletal changes, measuring proliferation and apoptosis, and testing drug responses. Together, these techniques reveal how microgravity reshapes cancer biology.
Results: Microgravity reshapes cancer biology in several ways. It disrupts the cytoskeleton, causing cells to form spherical 3D spheroids that resemble real tumors. Gene expression shifts, often reducing proliferation and increasing apoptosis, though aggressive cancers like glioblastoma may resist. Growth generally slows, but some tumors adapt and survive better. Drug sensitivity also changes: certain cancers become more vulnerable to chemotherapy, while others develop resistance. Overall, microgravity enables the creation of realistic 3D tumor models, offering powerful tools for studying cancer and testing treatments.
Conclusion: Microgravity has a dual impact on cancer: it can inhibit some tumors while making others more resilient. This highlights two key implications:
1. Scientific Insight – offering unique conditions to study cancer biology and uncover hidden mechanisms
2. Clinical Potential – enabling realistic models for drug discovery and new therapeutic strategies.
Future research combining omics, imaging, and personalized medicine in microgravity could transform cancer treatment both in space and on Earth.
Keywords: Microgravity_Cancer cells_Tumor growth_ 3D spheroids_Drug sensitivity