Atomic force microscopy showed that the stiffness of overexpressing KCNK6 cells decreased, indicating that the cells became softer, with increased deformability and invasiveness increased; whereas knocking down KCNK6, caused breast cancer cells to increase in stiffness, reflecting their weakened ability to invade or metastasize (****P < 0.0001; Figure 4D). The gene discussed is KCNK6; the disease is breast carcinoma.