part IV. The effect of microtubules and the mechanical properties of the nucleus on matrix invasion -- 9. Microtubules during migration and matrix invasion -- 9.1. The structure and assembly of microtubules -- 9.2. The assembly of the mitotic spindle during cell division -- 9.3. Microtubules and cell motility -- 9.4. Effect of microtubules on cell mechanical properties -- 9.5. The interactions of microtubules with actin filaments -- 9.6. Effect of the microtubule-actin interaction on the mechanical properties of cells -- 9.7. The impact of microtubule alterations on diseases such as cancer metastasis

10. Nuclear deformability during migration and matrix invasion -- 10.1. The physical role of the nucleus in cell migration -- 10.2. Mechanical properties of the nucleus -- 10.3. Nucleus-cytoskeleton-extracellular matrix connections -- 10.4. Mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction -- 10.5. Nuclear positioning and cell polarization in cell migration -- 10.6. Nucleus-cytoskeleton connection dependent cell migration -- 10.7. Cell squeezing through constrictions -- 10.8. Models of the nucleus during cell migration -- 10.9. Nucleoskeleton -- 10.10. Cytoskeletal forces pulling or pushing on the nucleus -- 10.11. Physical compartmentalization by the nucleus -- 10.12. Biological consequences of nuclear deformation during 3D cell migration -- 10.13. Nuclear mechanotransduction -- 10.14. Nuclear envelope rupture and repair during cancer cell migration

part V. The impact of the tumor microenvironment on cellular invasion -- 11. The mechanical and structural properties of the microenvironment -- 11.1. Why is the extracellular matrix of connective tissue crucial for the invasion of cancer cells? -- 11.2. 3D collagen matrices partly mimic the natural extracellular matrix scaffold -- 11.3. Pore size -- 11.4. Matrix stiffness -- 11.5. Matrix composition -- 11.6. The impact of fiber thickness, connection points and polymerization dynamics on cancer cell invasion -- 11.7. The role of a matrix stiffness gradient in cancer cell invasion

12. The impact of cells and substances within the extracellular matrix tissue on mechanical properties and cell invasion -- 12.1. The impact of tumor-associated fibroblasts on matrix mechanical properties -- 12.2. Cancer-associated fibroblasts align fibronectin in the matrix to enhance cancer cell migration -- 12.3. The role of substances and growth factors within the extracellular matrix for cancer cell mechanical properties -- 12.4. Mechanical properties of extracellular matrix fiber networks using magnetic twisting cytometry

13. The active role of the tumor stroma in regulating cell invasion -- 13.1. The stroma enhances malignant cancer progression -- 13.2. Biomechanical alterations in cancer cells -- 13.3. Extracellular matrix evoked alterations in cancer cell functions -- 13.4. Biomechanical alterations in multicellular spheroids -- 13.5. Biomechanical alterations of extracellular matrix stroma in cancer -- 13.6. Stromal influence on the behavior of cancer cells -- 13.7. How can the extracellular matrix of the stroma be mimicked? -- 13.8. The stroma decreases malignant cancer progression -- 13.9. How is the dual role of the stroma affected?

part VI. The impact of the mechanical and biochemical interaction of cancer cells with other cells in transendothelial migration -- 14. The impact of the mechanical and biochemical interaction of cancer cells with other cells in transendothelial migration -- 14.1. The expression of cell-cell adhesion molecules -- 14.2. The strength of cell-cell adhesions -- 14.3. The cancer cell transmigration route -- 14.4. The role of cancer cell exerted invadopodia during transendothelial migration -- 14.5. Tumor extracellular vesicles and interaction with the vascular system such as endothelial cells and immune cells

15. The mechanical properties of endothelial cells altered by aggressive cancer cells -- 15.1. The role of endothelial cell stiffness -- 15.2. The role of the endothelial contractile apparatus -- 15.3. Interaction between cancer cells and endothelial cells in 3D spheroids

16. The role of macrophages during cancer cell transendothelial migration -- 16.1. What is the role of macrophages during cancer disease? -- 16.2. Impact of Mena on cancer cell invasion and macrophages -- 16.3. Impact of Mena on macrophages -- 16.4. Impact of Notch and Mena signaling during cancer cell and macrophage interaction.