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Major G, Ahn M, Cho WW, Santos M, Wise J, Phillips E, Wise SG, Jang J, Rnjak-Kovacina J, Woodfield T, Lim KS. Programming temporal stiffness cues within extracellular matrix hydrogels for modelling cancer niches. Mater Today Bio 2024; 25:101004. [PMID: 38420142 PMCID: PMC10900776 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening is a common occurrence during the progression of many diseases, such as breast cancer. To accurately mimic the pathophysiological context of disease within 3D in vitro models, there is high demand for smart biomaterials which replicate the dynamic and temporal mechanical cues of diseased states. This study describes a preclinical disease model, using breast cancer as an example, which replicates the dynamic plasticity of the tumour microenvironment by incorporating temporal (3-week progression) biomechanical cues within a tissue-specific hydrogel microenvironment. The composite hydrogel formulation, integrating adipose-derived decellularised ECM (AdECM) and silk fibroin, was initially crosslinked using a visible light-mediated system, and then progressively stiffened through spontaneous secondary structure interactions inherent between the polymer chains (∼10-15 kPa increase, with a final stiffness of 25 kPa). When encapsulated and cultured in vitro, MCF-7 breast cancer cells initially formed numerous, large spheroids (>1000 μm2 in area), however, with progressive temporal stiffening, cells demonstrated growth arrest and underwent phenotypic changes resulting in intratumoral heterogeneity. Unlike widely-investigated static mechanical models, this stiffening hydrogel allowed for progressive phenotypic changes to be observed, and fostered the development of mature organoid-like spheroids, which mimicked both the organisation and acinar-structures of mature breast epithelium. The spheroids contained a central population of cells which expressed aggressive cellular programs, evidenced by increased fibronectin expression and reduction of E-cadherin. The phenotypic heterogeneity observed using this model is more reflective of physiological tumours, demonstrating the importance of establishing temporal cues within preclinical models in future work. Overall, the developed model demonstrated a novel strategy to uncouple ECM biomechanical properties from the cellular complexities of the disease microenvironment and offers the potential for wide applicability in other 3D in vitro disease models through addition of tissue-specific dECM materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gretel Major
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Minjun Ahn
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
| | - Won-Woo Cho
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
| | - Miguel Santos
- Applied Materials Group, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jessika Wise
- Mackenzie Cancer Research Group, Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Elisabeth Phillips
- Mackenzie Cancer Research Group, Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Steven G Wise
- Applied Materials Group, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jinah Jang
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
| | - Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Tim Woodfield
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Khoon S Lim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Light-Activated Materials Group, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia
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2
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Natesh NR, Mogha P, Chen A, Antonia SJ, Varghese S. Differential roles of normal and lung cancer-associated fibroblasts in microvascular network formation. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:016120. [PMID: 38524671 PMCID: PMC10959556 DOI: 10.1063/5.0188238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Perfusable microvascular networks offer promising three-dimensional in vitro models to study normal and compromised vascular tissues as well as phenomena such as cancer cell metastasis. Engineering of these microvascular networks generally involves the use of endothelial cells stabilized by fibroblasts to generate robust and stable vasculature. However, fibroblasts are highly heterogenous and may contribute variably to the microvascular structure. Here, we study the effect of normal and cancer-associated lung fibroblasts on the formation and function of perfusable microvascular networks. We examine the influence of cancer-associated fibroblasts on microvascular networks when cultured in direct (juxtacrine) and indirect (paracrine) contacts with endothelial cells, discovering a generative inhibition of microvasculature in juxtacrine co-cultures and a functional inhibition in paracrine co-cultures. Furthermore, we probed the secreted factors differential between cancer-associated fibroblasts and normal human lung fibroblasts, identifying several cytokines putatively influencing the resulting microvasculature morphology and functionality. These findings suggest the potential contribution of cancer-associated fibroblasts in aberrant microvasculature associated with tumors and the plausible application of such in vitro platforms in identifying new therapeutic targets and/or agents that can prevent formation of aberrant vascular structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen R. Natesh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 203 Research Drive, MSRB1 Room No. 381, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Pankaj Mogha
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University, 200 Trent Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Alan Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Scott J. Antonia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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3
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Piwocka O, Piotrowski I, Suchorska WM, Kulcenty K. Dynamic interactions in the tumor niche: how the cross-talk between CAFs and the tumor microenvironment impacts resistance to therapy. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1343523. [PMID: 38455762 PMCID: PMC10918473 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1343523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex ecosystem of cells, signaling molecules, and extracellular matrix components that profoundly influence cancer progression. Among the key players in the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have gained increasing attention for their diverse and influential roles. CAFs are activated fibroblasts found abundantly within the TME of various cancer types. CAFs contribute significantly to tumor progression by promoting angiogenesis, remodeling the extracellular matrix, and modulating immune cell infiltration. In order to influence the microenvironment, CAFs engage in cross-talk with immune cells, cancer cells, and other stromal components through paracrine signaling and direct cell-cell interactions. This cross-talk can result in immunosuppression, tumor cell proliferation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, contributing to disease progression. Emerging evidence suggests that CAFs play a crucial role in therapy resistance, including resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. CAFs can modulate the tumor response to treatment by secreting factors that promote drug efflux, enhance DNA repair mechanisms, and suppress apoptosis pathways. This paper aims to understand the multifaceted functions of CAFs within the TME, discusses cross-talk between CAFs with other TME cells, and sheds light on the contibution of CAFs to therapy resistance. Targeting CAFs or disrupting their cross-talk with other cells holds promise for overcoming drug resistance and improving the treatment efficacy of various cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliwia Piwocka
- Department of Electroradiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Radiobiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Physics, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland
| | - Igor Piotrowski
- Radiobiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Physics, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland
| | - Wiktoria M. Suchorska
- Department of Electroradiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Radiobiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Physics, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kulcenty
- Radiobiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Physics, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland
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4
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Pereira M, Pinto J, Arteaga B, Guerra A, Jorge RN, Monteiro FJ, Salgado CL. A Comprehensive Look at In Vitro Angiogenesis Image Analysis Software. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17625. [PMID: 38139453 PMCID: PMC10743557 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the complex challenges faced presently by tissue engineering (TE) is the development of vascularized constructs that accurately mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) of native tissue in which they are inserted to promote vessel growth and, consequently, wound healing and tissue regeneration. TE technique is characterized by several stages, starting from the choice of cell culture and the more appropriate scaffold material that can adequately support and supply them with the necessary biological cues for microvessel development. The next step is to analyze the attained microvasculature, which is reliant on the available labeling and microscopy techniques to visualize the network, as well as metrics employed to characterize it. These are usually attained with the use of software, which has been cited in several works, although no clear standard procedure has been observed to promote the reproduction of the cell response analysis. The present review analyzes not only the various steps previously described in terms of the current standards for evaluation, but also surveys some of the available metrics and software used to quantify networks, along with the detection of analysis limitations and future improvements that could lead to considerable progress for angiogenesis evaluation and application in TE research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Pereira
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.P.); (J.P.); (B.A.); (F.J.M.)
- INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Jéssica Pinto
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.P.); (J.P.); (B.A.); (F.J.M.)
- INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Belén Arteaga
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.P.); (J.P.); (B.A.); (F.J.M.)
- INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Parque Tecnológico de la Salud, Av. de la Investigación 11, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Guerra
- INEGI—Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (A.G.); (R.N.J.)
| | - Renato Natal Jorge
- INEGI—Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (A.G.); (R.N.J.)
- LAETA—Laboratório Associado de Energia, Transportes e Aeronáutica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-165 Porto, Portugal
- FEUP—Faculdade de Engenharia, Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e de Materiais, Universidade do Porto, 4200-165 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Jorge Monteiro
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.P.); (J.P.); (B.A.); (F.J.M.)
- INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- FEUP—Faculdade de Engenharia, Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e de Materiais, Universidade do Porto, 4200-165 Porto, Portugal
- PCCC—Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Christiane Laranjo Salgado
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.P.); (J.P.); (B.A.); (F.J.M.)
- INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
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5
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Chai XX, Liu J, Yu TY, Zhang G, Sun WJ, Zhou Y, Ren L, Cao HL, Yin DC, Zhang CY. Recent progress of mechanosensitive mechanism on breast cancer. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 185:1-16. [PMID: 37793504 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical environment is important for tumorigenesis and progression. Tumor cells can sense mechanical signals by mechanosensitive receptors, and these mechanical signals can be converted to biochemical signals to regulate cell behaviors, such as cell differentiation, proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and drug resistance. Here, we summarized the effects of the mechanical microenvironment on breast cancer cell activity, and mechanotransduction mechanism from cellular microenvironment to cell membrane, and finally to the nucleus, and also relative mechanosensitive proteins, ion channels, and signaling pathways were elaborated, therefore the mechanical signal could be transduced to biochemical or molecular signal. Meanwhile, the mechanical models commonly used for biomechanics study in vitro and some quantitative descriptions were listed. It provided an essential theoretical basis for the occurrence and development of mechanosensitive breast cancer, and also some potential drug targets were proposed to treat such disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xia Chai
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Jie Liu
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Tong-Yao Yu
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Wen-Jun Sun
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Li Ren
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Ningbo, 315103, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Hui-Ling Cao
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Basic and Translation of Cardiovascular Metabolic Disease, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi, PR China.
| | - Da-Chuan Yin
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, PR China.
| | - Chen-Yan Zhang
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shaanxi, PR China.
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6
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Liang L, Yang Y, Liu H, Yuan F, Yuan Y, Li W, Huang C, Chen J, Liu Y. Synthesis, characterization, anticancer efficacy evaluation of ruthenium(II) and iridium(III) polypyridyl complexes toward A549 cells. J Biol Inorg Chem 2023; 28:421-437. [PMID: 37097484 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-023-01997-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
A new ligand DFIP (2-(dibenzo[b,d]furan-3-yl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) and its two complexes iridium(III) [Ir(ppy)2(DFIP)](PF6) (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine, Ir1) and ruthenium(II) [Ru(bpy)2(DFIP)](PF6)2 (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, Ru1) were synthesized and characterized. The anticancer effects of the two complexes on A549, BEL-7402, HepG2, SGC-7901, HCT116 and normal LO2 cells were tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Complex Ir1 shows high cytotoxic activity on A549, BEL-7402, SGC-7901 and HepG2, Ru1 exhibits moderate anticancer activity toward A549, BEL-7402 and SGC-7901 cells. The IC50 values of Ir1 and Ru1 toward A549 are 7.2 ± 0.1 and 22.6 ± 1.4 μM, respectively. The localization of complexes Ir1 and Ru1 in the mitochondrial, intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cytochrome c (cyto-c) were investigated. Apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) was used to detect the effects of Ir1 and Ru1 on the A549 using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was detected by western blotting. Ir1 and Ru1 can increase the intracellular ROS levels and release cyto-c, reduce the MMP, leading to the apoptosis of A549 cells and blocking the A549 cells at the G0/G1 phase. Additionally, the complexes caused a decrease of the expression of polyADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), caspase 3, Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2), PI3K (phosphoinositide-3 kinase) and upregulated the expression of Bax. All these findings indicated that the complexes exert anticancer efficacy to induce cell death through immunogenic cell death, apoptosis, and autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Liang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, 510317, People's Republic of China.
| | - Haimei Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Yuan
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhan Yuan
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenlong Li
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunxia Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunjun Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Center of Topical Precise Drug Delivery System, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China.
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7
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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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8
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Azimian Zavareh V, Rafiee L, Sheikholeslam M, Shariati L, Vaseghi G, Savoji H, Haghjooy Javanmard S. Three-Dimensional in Vitro Models: A Promising Tool To Scale-Up Breast Cancer Research. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:4648-4672. [PMID: 36260561 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Common models used in breast cancer studies, including two-dimensional (2D) cultures and animal models, do not precisely model all aspects of breast tumors. These models do not well simulate the cell-cell and cell-stromal interactions required for normal tumor growth in the body and lake tumor like microenvironment. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models are novel approaches to studying breast cancer. They do not have the restrictions of these conventional models and are able to recapitulate the structural architecture, complexity, and specific function of breast tumors and provide similar in vivo responses to therapeutic regimens. These models can be a link between former traditional 2D culture and in vivo models and are necessary for further studies in cancer. This review attempts to summarize the most common 3D in vitro models used in breast cancer studies, including scaffold-free (spheroid and organoid), scaffold-based, and chip-based models, particularly focused on the basic and translational application of these 3D models in drug screening and the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vajihe Azimian Zavareh
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran.,Core Research Facilities (CRF), Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
| | - Laleh Rafiee
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
| | - Mohammadali Sheikholeslam
- Department of Biomaterials, Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran.,Biosensor Research Center, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
| | - Laleh Shariati
- Department of Biomaterials, Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran.,Cancer Prevention Research Center, Omid Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
| | - Golnaz Vaseghi
- Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
| | - Houman Savoji
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.,Research Center, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada.,Montreal TransMedTech Institute, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
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9
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Yuan Y, Shi C, Wu X, Li W, Huang C, Liang L, Chen J, Wang Y, Liu Y. Synthesis and anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo evaluation of iridium(III) complexes on mouse melanoma B16 cells. J Inorg Biochem 2022; 232:111820. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2022.111820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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10
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Zhang Y, Wang H, Oliveira RHM, Zhao C, Popel AS. Systems biology of angiogenesis signaling: Computational models and omics. WIREs Mech Dis 2021; 14:e1550. [PMID: 34970866 PMCID: PMC9243197 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a highly regulated multiscale process that involves a plethora of cells, their cellular signal transduction, activation, proliferation, differentiation, as well as their intercellular communication. The coordinated execution and integration of such complex signaling programs is critical for physiological angiogenesis to take place in normal growth, development, exercise, and wound healing, while its dysregulation is critically linked to many major human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and ocular disorders; it is also crucial in regenerative medicine. Although huge efforts have been devoted to drug development for these diseases by investigation of angiogenesis‐targeted therapies, only a few therapeutics and targets have proved effective in humans due to the innate multiscale complexity and nonlinearity in the process of angiogenic signaling. As a promising approach that can help better address this challenge, systems biology modeling allows the integration of knowledge across studies and scales and provides a powerful means to mechanistically elucidate and connect the individual molecular and cellular signaling components that function in concert to regulate angiogenesis. In this review, we summarize and discuss how systems biology modeling studies, at the pathway‐, cell‐, tissue‐, and whole body‐levels, have advanced our understanding of signaling in angiogenesis and thereby delivered new translational insights for human diseases. This article is categorized under:Cardiovascular Diseases > Computational Models Cancer > Computational Models
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hanwen Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebeca Hannah M Oliveira
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Chen Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Aleksander S Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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11
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Kniebs C, Luengen AE, Guenther D, Cornelissen CG, Schmitz-Rode T, Jockenhoevel S, Thiebes AL. Establishment of a Pre-vascularized 3D Lung Cancer Model in Fibrin Gel-Influence of Hypoxia and Cancer-Specific Therapeutics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:761846. [PMID: 34722481 PMCID: PMC8551668 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.761846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide and the one that causes the highest mortality. In order to understand the disease and to develop new treatments, in vitro human lung cancer model systems which imitate the physiological conditions is of high significance. In this study, a human 3D lung cancer model was established that features the organization of a tumor with focus on tumor angiogenesis. Vascular networks were formed by co-culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC) for 14 days in fibrin. A part of the pre-vascularized fibrin gel was replaced by fibrin gel containing lung cancer cells (A549) to form tri-cultures. This 3D cancer model system was cultured under different culture conditions and its behaviour after treatment with different concentrations of tumor-specific therapeutics was evaluated. The evaluation was performed by measurement of metabolic activity, viability, quantification of two-photon laser scanning microscopy and measurement of the proangiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor in the supernatant. Hypoxic conditions promoted vascularization compared to normoxic cultured controls in co- and tri-cultures as shown by significantly increased vascular structures, longer structures with a higher area and volume, and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor. Cancer cells also promoted vascularization. Treatment with 50 µM gefitinib or 50 nM paclitaxel decreased the vascularization significantly. VEGF secretion was only reduced after treatment with gefitinib, while in contrast secretion remained constant during medication with paclitaxel. The findings suggest that the herein described 3D lung cancer model provides a novel platform to investigate the angiogenic potential of cancer cells and its responses to therapeutics. Thus, it can serve as a promising approach for the development and patient-specific pre-selection of anticancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Kniebs
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME - Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Geleen, Netherlands
| | - Anja Elisabeth Luengen
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME - Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Geleen, Netherlands
| | - Daniel Guenther
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME - Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Gabriel Cornelissen
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME - Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Clinic for Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine (Medical Clinic V), RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmitz-Rode
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME - Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stefan Jockenhoevel
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME - Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Geleen, Netherlands
| | - Anja Lena Thiebes
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME - Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Geleen, Netherlands
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12
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Shen HY, Wei FZ, Liu Q. Differential analysis revealing APOC1 to be a diagnostic and prognostic marker for liver metastases of colorectal cancer. World J Clin Cases 2021; 9:3880-3894. [PMID: 34141744 PMCID: PMC8180235 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i16.3880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most malignant gastrointestinal cancers worldwide. The liver is the most important metastatic target organ, and liver metastasis is the leading cause of death in patients with CRC. Owing to the lack of sensitive biomarkers and unclear molecular mechanism, the occurrence of liver metastases cannot be predicted and the clinical outcomes are bad for liver metastases. Therefore, it is very important to identify the diagnostic or prognostic markers for liver metastases of CRC.
AIM To investigate the highly differentially expressed genes (HDEGs) and prognostic marker for liver metastases of CRC.
METHODS Data from three NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were used to show HDEGs between liver metastases of CRC and tumour or normal samples. These significantly HDEGs of the three GEO datasets take the interactions. And these genes were screened through an online tool to explore the prognostic value. Then, TIMER and R package were utilized to investigate the immunity functions of the HDEGs and gene set enrichment analysis was used to explore their potential functions.
RESULTS Based on the selection criteria, three CRC datasets for exploration (GSE14297, GSE41258, and GSE49355) were chosen. Venn diagrams were used to show HDEGs common to the six groups and 47 HDEGs were obtained. The HDEGs were shown by using STRING and Cytoscape software. Based on the TCGA database, APOC1 showed significantly different expression between N2 and N0, and N2 and N1. And there was also a significant difference in expression between T2 and T4, and between T2 and T3. In 20 paired CRC and normal tissues, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction illustrated that the APOC1 mRNA was strongly upregulated in CRC tissues (P = 0.014). PrognoScan and GEPIA2 revealed the prognostic value of APOC1 for overall survival and disease-free survival in CRC (P < 0.05). TIMER showed that APOC1 has a close relationship with immune infiltration (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION APOC1 is a biomarker that is associated with both the diagnosis and prognosis of liver metastases of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Yu Shen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Fang-Ze Wei
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
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13
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Jaeschke A, Harvey NR, Tsurkan M, Werner C, Griffiths LR, Haupt LM, Bray LJ. Techniques for RNA extraction from cells cultured in starPEG-heparin hydrogels. Open Biol 2021; 11:200388. [PMID: 34062095 PMCID: PMC8169204 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models that provide a biologically relevant microenvironment are imperative to investigate cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions in vitro. Semi-synthetic star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol) (starPEG)–heparin hydrogels are widely used for 3D cell culture due to their highly tuneable biochemical and biomechanical properties. Changes in gene expression levels are commonly used as a measure of cellular responses. However, the isolation of high-quality RNA presents a challenge as contamination of the RNA with hydrogel residue, such as polymer or glycosaminoglycan fragments, can impact template quality and quantity, limiting effective gene expression analyses. Here, we compare two protocols for the extraction of high-quality RNA from starPEG–heparin hydrogels and assess three subsequent purification techniques. Removal of hydrogel residue by centrifugation was found to be essential for obtaining high-quality RNA in both isolation methods. However, purification of the RNA did not result in further improvements in RNA quality. Furthermore, we show the suitability of the extracted RNA for cDNA synthesis of three endogenous control genes confirmed via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The methods and techniques shown can be tailored for other hydrogel models based on natural or semi-synthetic materials to provide robust templates for all gene expression analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jaeschke
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia.,School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Nicholas R Harvey
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia.,Genomics Research Centre, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Mikhail Tsurkan
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Saxony, Germany
| | - Carsten Werner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Saxony, Germany
| | - Lyn R Griffiths
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia.,Genomics Research Centre, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Larisa M Haupt
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia.,Genomics Research Centre, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia.,ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Laura J Bray
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia.,ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Australia.,School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
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14
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Chen L, Zhou X, Kong X, Su Z, Wang X, Li S, Luo A, Liu Z, Fang Y, Wang J. The Prognostic Significance of Anisomycin-Activated Phospho-c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase (p-JNK) in Predicting Breast Cancer Patients' Survival Time. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:656693. [PMID: 33768099 PMCID: PMC7985183 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.656693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the prognostic significance of p-JNK in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and analyze the relationship between anisomycin, p-JNK. A total of 104 breast cancer patients had NACT were enrolled in this study. The western blot and immunohistochemistry assays were used to determine the protein expressions of p-JNK in human breast cancer cell lines and patients’ cancer tissues. The chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were adopted to gauge the associations between breast cancer and clinicopathological variables by p-JNK expression, whereas the univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the prognostic value of p-JNK expression. The Kaplan-Meier plots and the log-rank test were adopted to determine patients’ disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Findings indicated that the p-JNK expression had prognostic significance in univariate and multivariate Cox regression survival analyses. Results of log-rank methods showed that: (1) the mean DFS and OS times in patients with high p-JNK expression were significantly longer than those in patients with low p-JNK expression (χ2 = 5.908, P = 0.015 and χ2 = 6.593, P = 0.010, respectively). p-JNK expression is a significant prognostic factor that can effectively predict the survival in breast cancer patients receiving NACT. Treatment with the JNK agonist anisomycin can induce apoptosis, lead to increased p-JNK expression and decreased p-STAT3 expression. Moreover, the p-JNK expression was inversely correlated with p-STAT3 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xuantong Zhou
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyi Kong
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaohui Su
- Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies, Mays Cancer Center, School of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Xiangyu Wang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Sen Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Aiping Luo
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihua Liu
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Fang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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15
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Fernando K, Kwang LG, Lim JTC, Fong ELS. Hydrogels to engineer tumor microenvironments in vitro. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:2362-2383. [DOI: 10.1039/d0bm01943g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Illustration of engineered hydrogel to recapitulate aspects of the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanishka Fernando
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- National University of Singapore
- Singapore
| | - Leng Gek Kwang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- National University of Singapore
- Singapore
| | - Joanne Tze Chin Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- National University of Singapore
- Singapore
| | - Eliza Li Shan Fong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- National University of Singapore
- Singapore
- The N.1 Institute for Health
- National University of Singapore
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16
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Bonda U, Jaeschke A, Lighterness A, Baldwin J, Werner C, De-Juan-Pardo EM, Bray LJ. 3D Quantification of Vascular-Like Structures in z Stack Confocal Images. STAR Protoc 2020; 1:100180. [PMID: 33377074 PMCID: PMC7757404 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2020.100180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Optical slice microscopy is commonly used to characterize the morphometric features of 3D cellular cultures, such as in vitro vascularization. However, the quantitative analysis of those structures is often performed on a single 2D maximum intensity projection image, limiting the accuracy of data obtained from 3D cultures. Here, we present a protocol for the quantitative analysis of z stack images, utilizing Fiji, Amira, and WinFiber3D. This protocol facilitates the in-depth examination of vascular-like structures within 3D cell culture models. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Koch et al. (2020). The 3D analysis of z stack confocal images is critical to obtain accurate data Detailed step-by-step protocol for quantitative analysis of vascular-like structures Tcl and Python scripts are included to facilitate automated image analysis
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Bonda
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Saxony 01069, Germany
| | - Anna Jaeschke
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.,School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
| | - Anthony Lighterness
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
| | - Jeremy Baldwin
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
| | - Carsten Werner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Saxony 01069, Germany
| | - Elena M De-Juan-Pardo
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.,Translational 3D Printing Laboratory for Advanced Tissue Engineering (T3mPLATE), Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia (UWA), Perth, WA 6009, Australia.,School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Laura J Bray
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.,School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.,ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
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