City of Hope and UC Berkeley Unveil AI "Cell Squeezing" Platform to Predict Individual Breast Cancer Risk

City of Hope and UC Berkeley develop a low-cost AI platform that "squeezes" breast cells to calculate cancer risk based on a new "mechanical age" metric.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 24, 2026, 4:02 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from City of Hope

Measuring the Mechanical Resilience of Breast Cells

A groundbreaking collaboration between City of Hope and the University of California, Berkeley, has resulted in the creation of MechanoAge, a microfluidic platform designed to quantify breast cancer risk at the cellular level. By passing individual breast epithelial cells through microscopic, narrow channels, the device subjects them to physical stress, essentially "squeezing" the cells to monitor their deformation and recovery. This taxing environment allows researchers to measure the biophysical properties of the cells, translating physical responses into a set of data points that reveal a cell's functional health and its likelihood of transitioning into a malignant state.

The Discovery of Biological Mechanical Age

The most significant finding resulting from the MechanoAge platform is the concept of "mechanical age," a metric that can differ substantially from a person’s chronological age. Engineers have long analyzed how materials like metal and concrete age under stress, but this research marks the first time such principles have been applied to biological cells to quantify cancer risk. The study revealed that as cells age mechanically, they become stiffer and lose their ability to rapidly regain their shape after being deformed. When a younger woman’s cells exhibit the mechanical stiffness typically seen in much older populations, it serves as a primary indicator of elevated cancer susceptibility.

Bridging the Gap in Non-Genetic Risk Assessment

Currently, risk assessment for the 94% of women who do not carry known genetic mutations like BRCA1/2 relies on imprecise population models or breast density measurements. These methods often lead to a cycle of over-screening or, conversely, missed diagnoses. Dr. Mark LaBarge of City of Hope emphasized that MechanoAge provides tangible, cell-derived evidence that allows women to have more informed discussions with their physicians. By focusing on the cells themselves rather than indirect statistical models, the platform offers a personalized risk score that fills a critical gap in preventative oncology for the general population.