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Chakkera M, Foote JB, Farran B, Nagaraju GP. Breaking the stromal barrier in pancreatic cancer: Advances and challenges. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189065. [PMID: 38160899 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide due to the absence of early detection methods and the low success rates of traditional therapeutic strategies. Drug resistance in PC is driven by its desmoplastic stroma, which creates a barrier that shields cancer niches and prevents the penetration of drugs. The PC stroma comprises heterogeneous cellular populations and non-cellular components involved in aberrant ECM deposition, immunosuppression, and drug resistance. These components can influence PC development through intricate and complex crosstalk with the PC cells. Understanding how stromal components and cells interact with and influence the invasiveness and refractoriness of PC cells is thus a prerequisite for developing successful stroma-modulating strategies capable of remodeling the PC stroma to alleviate drug resistance and enhance therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we explore how non-cellular and cellular stromal components, including cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor-associated macrophages, contribute to the immunosuppressive and tumor-promoting effects of the stroma. We also examine the signaling pathways underlying their activation, tumorigenic effects, and interactions with PC cells. Finally, we discuss recent pre-clinical and clinical work aimed at developing and testing novel stroma-modulating agents to alleviate drug resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes in PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohana Chakkera
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Jeremy B Foote
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Batoul Farran
- Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
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2
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Domingues M, Leite Pereira C, Sarmento B, Castro F. Mimicking 3D breast tumor-stromal interactions to screen novel cancer therapeutics. Eur J Pharm Sci 2023; 190:106560. [PMID: 37557927 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Most of the 3D breast tumor models used in drug screening studies only comprise tumor cells, keeping out other essential cell players of the tumor microenvironment. Tumor-associated macrophages and fibroblasts are frequently correlated with tumor progression and therapy resistance, and targeting these cells at the tumor site has been appointed as a promising therapeutic strategy. However, the translation of new therapies to the clinic has been hampered by the absence of cellular models that more closely mimic the features of in vivo breast tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the development of innovative 3D models able to provide consistent and predictive responses about the in vivo efficacy of novel therapeutics is still an unmet preclinical need. Herein, we have established an in vitro 3D heterotypic spheroid model including MCF-7 breast tumor cells, human mammary fibroblasts and human macrophages. To establish this model, different cell densities have been combined and characterized through the evaluation of the spheroid size and metabolic activity, as well as histological and immunohistochemistry analysis of the 3D multicellular structures. The final optimized 3D model consisted in a multicellular spheroid seeded at the initial density of 5000 cells and cell ratio of 1:2:1 (MCF-7:monocytes:fibroblasts). Our model recapitulates several features of the breast tumor microenvironment, including the formation of a necrotic core, spatial organization, and extracellular matrix production. Further, it was validated as a platform for drug screening studies, using paclitaxel, a currently approved drug for breast cancer treatment, and Gefitinib, a chemotherapeutic approved for lung cancer and in preclinical evaluation for breast cancer. Generally, the impact on the cell viability of the 3D model was less evident than in 2D model, reinforcing the relevance of such complex 3D models in addressing novel treatment approaches. Overall, the use of a 3D heterotypic spheroid of breast cancer could be a valuable tool to predict the therapeutic effect of new treatments for breast cancer patients, by recapitulating key features of the breast cancer microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Domingues
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto 4200-135, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto 4200-135, Portugal; FEUP - Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Doutor Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal
| | - Catarina Leite Pereira
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto 4200-135, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto 4200-135, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sarmento
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto 4200-135, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto 4200-135, Portugal; CESPU - Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Rua Central de Gandra 1317, Gandra 4585-116, Portugal.
| | - Flávia Castro
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto 4200-135, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto 4200-135, Portugal.
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3
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Tavana H, Luker GD. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: challenges and opportunities. Oncotarget 2023; 14:211-214. [PMID: 36944189 PMCID: PMC10030151 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Tavana
- Correspondence to:Hossein Tavana, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA email
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4
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Mekhileri NV, Major G, Lim K, Mutreja I, Chitcholtan K, Phillips E, Hooper G, Woodfield T. Biofabrication of Modular Spheroids as Tumor-Scale Microenvironments for Drug Screening. Adv Healthc Mater 2022:e2201581. [PMID: 36495232 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
To streamline the drug discovery pipeline, there is a pressing need for preclinical models which replicate the complexity and scale of native tumors. While there have been advancements in the formation of microscale tumor units, these models are cell-line dependent, time-consuming and have not improved clinical trial success rates. In this study, two methods for generating 3D tumor microenvironments are compared, rapidly fabricated hydrogel microspheres and traditional cell-dense spheroids. These modules are then bioassembled into 3D printed thermoplastic scaffolds, using an automated biofabrication process, to form tumor-scale models. Modules are formed with SKOV3 and HFF cells as monocultures and cocultures, and the fabrication efficiency, cell architecture, and drug response profiles are characterized, both as single modules and as multimodular constructs. Cell-encapsulated Gel-MA microspheres are fabricated with high-reproducibility and dimensions necessary for automated tumor-scale bioassembly regardless of cell type, however, only cocultured spheroids form compact modules suitable for bioassembly. Chemosensitivity assays demonstrate the reduced potency of doxorubicin in coculture bioassembled constructs and a ≈five-fold increase in drug resistance of cocultured cells in 3D modules compared with 2D monolayers. This bioassembly system is efficient and tailorable so that a variety of relevant-sized tumor constructs could be developed to study tumorigenesis and modernize drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Vijayan Mekhileri
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Gretel Major
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Khoon Lim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Isha Mutreja
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Kenny Chitcholtan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gynaecological Cancer Research Group, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Elisabeth Phillips
- Mackenzie Cancer Research Group, Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Gary Hooper
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Tim Woodfield
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
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5
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DePalma TJ, Sivakumar H, Skardal A. Strategies for developing complex multi-component in vitro tumor models: Highlights in glioblastoma. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 180:114067. [PMID: 34822927 PMCID: PMC10560581 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, many research groups have begun to utilize bioengineered in vitro models of cancer to study mechanisms of disease progression, test drug candidates, and develop platforms to advance personalized drug treatment options. Due to advances in cell and tissue engineering over the last few decades, there are now a myriad of tools that can be used to create such in vitro systems. In this review, we describe the considerations one must take when developing model systems that accurately mimic the in vivo tumor microenvironment (TME) and can be used to answer specific scientific questions. We will summarize the importance of cell sourcing in models with one or multiple cell types and outline the importance of choosing biomaterials that accurately mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM) of the tumor or tissue that is being modeled. We then provide examples of how these two components can be used in concert in a variety of model form factors and conclude by discussing how biofabrication techniques such as bioprinting and organ-on-a-chip fabrication can be used to create highly reproducible complex in vitro models. Since this topic has a broad range of applications, we use the final section of the review to dive deeper into one type of cancer, glioblastoma, to illustrate how these components come together to further our knowledge of cancer biology and move us closer to developing novel drugs and systems that improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J DePalma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Hemamylammal Sivakumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Aleksander Skardal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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6
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Mollah F, Varamini P. Overcoming Therapy Resistance and Relapse in TNBC: Emerging Technologies to Target Breast Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1921. [PMID: 34944738 PMCID: PMC8698629 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer. Often, TNBC is not effectively treated due to the lack of specificity of conventional therapies and results in relapse and metastasis. Breast cancer-associated fibroblasts (BCAFs) are the predominant cells that reside in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and regulate tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis, and therapy resistance. BCAFs secrete a wide range of factors, including growth factors, chemokines, and cytokines, some of which have been proved to lead to a poor prognosis and clinical outcomes. This TME component has been emerging as a promising target due to its crucial role in cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance. A number of therapeutic candidates are designed to effectively target BCAFs with a focus on their tumor-promoting properties and tumor immune response. This review explores various agents targeting BCAFs in TNBC, including small molecules, nucleic acid-based agents, antibodies, proteins, and finally, nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhana Mollah
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Pegah Varamini
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
- Sydney Nano Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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7
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Singh AJ, Gray JW. Chemokine signaling in cancer-stroma communications. J Cell Commun Signal 2021; 15:361-381. [PMID: 34086259 PMCID: PMC8222467 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-021-00621-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a multi-faceted disease in which spontaneous mutation(s) in a cell leads to the growth and development of a malignant new organ that if left undisturbed will grow in size and lead to eventual death of the organism. During this process, multiple cell types are continuously releasing signaling molecules into the microenvironment, which results in a tangled web of communication that both attracts new cell types into and reshapes the tumor microenvironment as a whole. One prominent class of molecules, chemokines, bind to specific receptors and trigger directional, chemotactic movement in the receiving cell. Chemokines and their receptors have been demonstrated to be expressed by almost all cell types in the tumor microenvironment, including epithelial, immune, mesenchymal, endothelial, and other stromal cells. This results in chemokines playing multifaceted roles in facilitating context-dependent intercellular communications. Recent research has started to shed light on these ligands and receptors in a cancer-specific context, including cell-type specificity and drug targetability. In this review, we summarize the latest research with regards to chemokines in facilitating communication between different cell types in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun J Singh
- OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97201, USA.
| | - Joe W Gray
- OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
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8
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Lamichhane A, Thakuri PS, Rafsanjani Nejad P, Tavana H. Modeling adaptive drug resistance of colorectal cancer and therapeutic interventions with tumor spheroids. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:2372-2380. [PMID: 34102903 DOI: 10.1177/15353702211014185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance is a major barrier against successful treatments of cancer patients. Various intrinsic mechanisms and adaptive responses of tumor cells to cancer drugs often lead to failure of treatments and tumor relapse. Understanding mechanisms of cancer drug resistance is critical to develop effective treatments with sustained anti-tumor effects. Three-dimensional cultures of cancer cells known as spheroids present a biologically relevant model of avascular tumors and have been increasingly incorporated in tumor biology and cancer drug discovery studies. In this review, we discuss several recent studies from our group that utilized colorectal tumor spheroids to investigate responses of cancer cells to cytotoxic and molecularly targeted drugs and uncover mechanisms of drug resistance. We highlight our findings from both short-term, one-time treatments and long-term, cyclic treatments of tumor spheroids and discuss mechanisms of adaptation of cancer cells to the treatments. Guided by mechanisms of resistance, we demonstrate the feasibility of designing specific drug combinations to effectively block growth and resistance of cancer cells in spheroid cultures. Finally, we conclude with our perspectives on the utility of three-dimensional tumor models and their shortcomings and advantages for phenotypic and mechanistic studies of cancer drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astha Lamichhane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Pradip Shahi Thakuri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | | | - Hossein Tavana
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
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9
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Amos SE, Choi YS. The Cancer Microenvironment: Mechanical Challenges of the Metastatic Cascade. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:625859. [PMID: 33644019 PMCID: PMC7907606 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.625859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The metastatic cascade presents a significant challenge to patient survival in the fight against cancer. As metastatic cells disseminate and colonize a secondary site, stepwise exposure to microenvironment-specific mechanical stimuli influences and protects successful metastasis. Following cancerous transformation and associated cell recruitment, the tumor microenvironment (TME) becomes a mechanically complex niche, owing to changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness and architecture. The ECM mechanically reprograms the cancer cell phenotype, priming cells for invasion. 2D and 3D hydrogel-based culture platforms approximate these environmental variables and permit investigations into tumor-dependent shifts in malignancy. Following TME modification, malignant cells must invade the local ECM, driven toward blood, and lymph vessels by sensing biochemical and biophysical gradients. Microfluidic chips recreate cancer-modified ECM tracks, empowering studies into modes of confined motility. Intravasation and extravasation consist of complex cancer-endothelial interactions that modify an otherwise submicron-scale migration. Perfused microfluidic platforms facilitate the physiological culture of endothelial cells and thus enhance the translatability of basic research into metastatic transendothelial migration. These platforms also shed light on the poorly understood circulating tumor cell, which defies adherent cell norms by surviving the shear stress of blood flow and avoiding anoikis. Metastatic cancers possess the plasticity to adapt to new mechanical conditions, permitting their invasiveness, and ensuring their survival against anomalous stimuli. Here, we review the cellular mechanics of metastasis in the context of current in vitro approaches. Advances that further expose the mechanisms underpinning the phenotypic fluidity of metastatic cancers remain central to the development of novel interventions targeting cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yu Suk Choi
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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10
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Ferreira LP, Gaspar VM, Monteiro MV, Freitas B, Silva NJO, Mano JF. Screening of dual chemo-photothermal cellular nanotherapies in organotypic breast cancer 3D spheroids. J Control Release 2021; 331:85-102. [PMID: 33388341 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.12.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Living therapeutics approaches that exploit mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as nanomedicine carriers are highly attractive due to MSCs native tropism toward the 3D tumor microenvironment. However, a streamlined pre-clinical evaluation of nano-in-cell anti-cancer therapies remains limited by the lack of in vitro testing platforms for screening MSCs-3D microtumor interactions. Herein we generated dense breast cancer mono and heterotypic 3D micro-spheroids for evaluating MSCs-solid tumors interactions and screen advanced nano-in-MSCs therapies. Breast cancer monotypic and heterotypic models comprising cancer cells and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were self-assembled under controlled conditions using the liquid overlay technique. The resulting microtumors exhibited high compactness, reproducible morphology and necrotic regions, similarly to native solid tumors. For evaluating tumoritropic therapies in organotypic tumor-stroma 3D models, theranostic polydopamine nanoparticles loaded with indocyanine green-doxorubicin combinations (PDA-ICG-DOX) were synthesized and administered to human bone-marrow derived MSCs (hBM-MSCs). The dual-loaded PDA nano-platforms were efficiently internalized, exhibited highly efficient NIR-light responsivity and assured MSCs viability up to 3 days. The administration of PDA-ICG-DOX nano-in-MSC tumoritropic units to microtumor models was performed in ultra-low adhesion surfaces for simulating in vitro the stem cell-tumor interactions observed in the in vivo scenario. Bioimaging analysis revealed hBM-MSCs adhesion to 3D cancer cells mass and MSCs-chemo-photothermal nanotherapeutics exhibited higher anti-tumor potential when compared to their standalone chemotherapy treated 3D tumor counterparts. Overall, the proposed methodology is suitable for evaluating MSCs-microtumors individualized interactions and enables a rapid high-throughput screening of tumoritropic therapies bioperformance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís P Ferreira
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vítor M Gaspar
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Maria V Monteiro
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bruno Freitas
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Nuno J O Silva
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Departamento de Física, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João F Mano
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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11
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Saini H, Rahmani Eliato K, Veldhuizen J, Zare A, Allam M, Silva C, Kratz A, Truong D, Mouneimne G, LaBaer J, Ros R, Nikkhah M. The role of tumor-stroma interactions on desmoplasia and tumorigenicity within a microengineered 3D platform. Biomaterials 2020; 247:119975. [PMID: 32278213 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.119975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in modulating cancer progression. Amongst various cell types within the tumor microenvironment, cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are in abundance, serving to modulate the biophysical properties of the stromal matrix, through excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that leads to enhanced tumor progression. There is still a critical need to develop a fundamental framework on the role of tumor-stromal cell interactions on desmoplasia and tumorigenicity. Herein, we developed a 3D microengineered organotypic tumor-stroma model incorporated with breast cancer cells surrounded by CAF-embedded collagen matrix. We further integrated our platform with atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study the dynamic changes in stromal stiffness during active tumor invasion. Our findings primarily demonstrated enhanced tumor progression in the presence of CAFs. Furthermore, we highlighted the crucial role of crosstalk between tumor cells and CAFs on stromal desmoplasia, where we identified the role of tumor-secreted PDGF-AA/-BB on elevated matrix stiffness. Inhibition of the activity of PDGFRs in CAFs led to attenuation of stromal stiffness. Overall, our work presents a well-controlled tumor microenvironment model capable of dissecting specific biophysical and biochemical signaling cues which lead to stromal desmoplasia and tumor progression.
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12
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Breast Fibroblasts and ECM Components Modulate Breast Cancer Cell Migration Through the Secretion of MMPs in a 3D Microfluidic Co-Culture Model. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12051173. [PMID: 32384738 PMCID: PMC7281408 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) composition greatly influences cancer progression, leading to differential invasion, migration, and metastatic potential. In breast cancer, ECM components, such as fibroblasts and ECM proteins, have the potential to alter cancer cell migration. However, the lack of in vitro migration models that can vary ECM composition limits our knowledge of how specific ECM components contribute to cancer progression. Here, a microfluidic model was used to study the effect of 3D heterogeneous ECMs (i.e., fibroblasts and different ECM protein compositions) on the migration distance of a highly invasive human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. Specifically, we show that in the presence of normal breast fibroblasts, a fibronectin-rich matrix induces more cancer cell migration. Analysis of the ECM revealed the presence of ECM tunnels. Likewise, cancer-stromal crosstalk induced an increase in the secretion of metalloproteinases (MMPs) in co-cultures. When MMPs were inhibited, migration distance decreased in all conditions except for the fibronectin-rich matrix in the co-culture with human mammary fibroblasts (HMFs). This model mimics the in vivo invasion microenvironment, allowing the examination of cancer cell migration in a relevant context. In general, this data demonstrates the capability of the model to pinpoint the contribution of different components of the tumor microenvironment (TME).
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13
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Singh S, Tran S, Putman J, Tavana H. Three-dimensional models of breast cancer-fibroblasts interactions. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2020; 245:879-888. [PMID: 32276543 DOI: 10.1177/1535370220917366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT Tumor stroma plays an important role in progression of cancers to a fatal metastatic disease. Modern treatment strategies are considering targeting tumor stroma to improve outcomes for cancer patients. A current challenge to develop stroma-targeting therapeutics is the lack of preclinical physiologic tumor models. Animal models widely used in cancer research lack human stroma and are not amenable to screening of chemical compounds for cancer drug discovery. In this review, we outline in vitro three-dimensional tumor models that we have developed to study the interactions among cancer cells and stromal cells. We describe development of the tumor models in a modular fashion, from a spheroid model to a sophisticated organotypic model, and discuss the importance of using correct physiologic models to recapitulate tumor-stromal signaling. These biomimetic tumor models will facilitate understanding of tumor-stromal signaling biology and provide a scalable approach for testing and discovery of cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Singh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Sydnie Tran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Justin Putman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Hossein Tavana
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
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14
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Singh S, Ray LA, Shahi Thakuri P, Tran S, Konopka MC, Luker GD, Tavana H. Organotypic breast tumor model elucidates dynamic remodeling of tumor microenvironment. Biomaterials 2020; 238:119853. [PMID: 32062146 PMCID: PMC8165649 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.119853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Fibroblasts are a critical component of tumor microenvironments and associate with cancer cells physically and biochemically during different stages of the disease. Existing cell culture models to study interactions between fibroblasts and cancer cells lack native tumor architecture or scalability. We developed a scalable organotypic model by robotically encapsulating a triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell spheroid within a natural extracellular matrix containing dispersed fibroblasts. We utilized an established CXCL12 - CXCR4 chemokine-receptor signaling in breast tumors to validate our model. Using imaging techniques and molecular analyses, we demonstrated that CXCL12-secreting fibroblasts have elevated activity of RhoA/ROCK/myosin light chain-2 pathway and rapidly and significantly contract collagen matrices. Signaling between TNBC cells and CXCL12-producing fibroblasts promoted matrix invasion of cancer cells by activating oncogenic mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, whereas normal fibroblasts significantly diminished TNBC cell invasiveness. We demonstrated that disrupting CXCL12 - CXCR4 signaling using a molecular inhibitor significantly inhibited invasiveness of cancer cells, suggesting blocking of tumor-stromal interactions as a therapeutic strategy especially for cancers such as TNBC that lack targeted therapies. Our organotypic tumor model mimics native solid tumors, enables modular addition of different stromal cells and extracellular matrix proteins, and allows high throughput compound screening against tumor-stromal interactions to identify novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Singh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Lucille A Ray
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Pradip Shahi Thakuri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Sydnie Tran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Michael C Konopka
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Gary D Luker
- Department of Radiology, Microbiology and Immunology, Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Hossein Tavana
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA.
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