Vector-induced ferritin overexpression limits cell motility by controlling cell stiffness in glioblastoma cells

• Ferritin overexpression inhibits cell motility but not proliferation in GBM • The absorption of iron by ferritin reduces basal levels of lipid peroxidation • Ferritin overexpression increases cell stiffness Several tumor types have shown an iron metabolic phenotype characterized by preferential iron accumulation relative to their normal tissue counterparts. However, the fundamental mechanism(s) by which iron can contribute to tumor progression are still unclear. To test the biophysical role of iron in tumor cell motility, this short communication leveraged a ferritin heavy chain overexpression model system to absorb intracellular labile iron. Using this model system, ferritin overexpression mitigates lipid peroxidation and increases cell stiffness to diminish cell motility.