To quantify these dynamics, we exploited an elastic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micropillar array substrate functionalized with CD19 antigen and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) (Extended Data Fig. 1a–b, Supplementary Fig. 1), mimicking the cancer cell surface while serving as mechanical sensors. The gene discussed is ICAM1; the disease is cancer.