How do tumor cells 'gravitate' towards each other?

Question

In a popular article it is mentioned that in centrifugal experiments with cancer cells that

When subjected to microgravity-conditions, the cancer cells were unable to sense each other and therefore had a very hard time coming together.

which is because

[...] the process through which cancer grows and spreads would seem to indicate that there is a means through which the cells are able to sense each other and gravitate together to form a tumor.

I would now be interested in the role of such fundamental forces in cell-signaling.

How does gravity interact with cell-signaling and lead to the 'gravitation' of tumor cells towards one another?

To my knowledge, cell signaling is a bunch of processes that involve the propagation of electrical signals by chemical means, so I am rather surprised that gravity would play any role in this.

Twinkle Sheen · Answer

It is reported that 99 genes are significantly upregulated in presence of normal gravity, whereas in absence of gravitational force no gene expression is seen in case of T cell activation. Research article attached concluded  that gravity is important for regulating various essential T-cell activation signalling pathways, which play key role in cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Transcription factors like NF-kB, CREB, ELK, AP-1, and STAT are responsible for tumor cell development. And NF-kB and CREB showed gravity-mediated gene expression. As, the PKA
signaling pathway regulates expression of these transcription factor, so it means that gravitational force moderates PKA signalling. And PKA signalling also mediates tumorigenesis. So, by regulating various cell signalling pathways, gravity controls the tumor cells.

Gravity also modulates the activity of Epidermal growth factor, which are implicated in tumor progression. (Via: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7757250)

How do tumor cells 'gravitate' towards each other?

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