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].