Metastasis is complex, involving multiple genetic, epigenetic, biochemical, and physical changes in the
cancer cell and its microenvironment. Cells with metastatic potential are often characterized by altered cellular contractility and deformability, lending them the flexibility to disseminate and navigate through different microenvironments. We demonstrate that mechanoresponsiveness is a hallmark of
pancreatic cancer cells. Key mechanoresponsive
proteins, those that accumulate in response to mechanical stress, specifically nonmuscle
myosin IIA (MYH9) and IIC (MYH14), α-
actinin 4, and
filamin B, were highly expressed in
pancreatic cancer as compared with healthy ductal epithelia. Their less responsive sister paralogs-
myosin IIB (MYH10), α-
actinin 1, and
filamin A-had lower expression differential or disappeared with
cancer progression. We demonstrate that
proteins whose cellular contributions are often overlooked because of their low abundance can have profound impact on cell architecture, behavior, and mechanics. Here, the low abundant
protein MYH14 promoted metastatic behavior and could be exploited with
4-hydroxyacetophenone (4-HAP), which increased MYH14 assembly, stiffening cells. As a result, 4-HAP decreased dissemination, induced cortical actin belts in spheroids, and slowed retrograde actin flow. 4-HAP also reduced liver
metastases in human
pancreatic cancer-bearing nude mice. Thus, increasing MYH14 assembly overwhelms the ability of cells to polarize and invade, suggesting targeting the mechanoresponsive
proteins of the actin cytoskeleton as a new strategy to improve the survival of patients with
pancreatic cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that mechanoresponsive
proteins become upregulated with
pancreatic cancer progression and that this system of
proteins can be pharmacologically targeted to inhibit the metastatic potential of
pancreatic cancer cells.