1
|
Shao S, Delk NA, Jones CN. A microphysiological system reveals neutrophil contact-dependent attenuation of pancreatic tumor progression by CXCR2 inhibition-based immunotherapy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14142. [PMID: 38898176 PMCID: PMC11187156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64780-4] [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: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells recruit neutrophils from the bloodstream into the tumor tissue, where these immune cells promote the progression of numerous solid tumors. Studies in mice suggest that blocking neutrophil recruitment to tumors by inhibition of neutrophil chemokine receptor CXCR2 could be a potential immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer. Yet, the mechanisms by which neutrophils promote tumor progression in humans, as well as how CXCR2 inhibition could potentially serve as a cancer therapy, remain elusive. In this study, we developed a human cell-based microphysiological system to quantify neutrophil-tumor spheroid interactions in both "separated" and "contact" scenarios. We found that neutrophils promote the invasion of tumor spheroids through the secretion of soluble factors and direct contact with cancer cells. However, they promote the proliferation of tumor spheroids solely through direct contact. Interestingly, treatment with AZD-5069, a CXCR2 inhibitor, attenuates invasion and proliferation of tumor spheroids by blocking direct contact with neutrophils. Our findings also show that CXCR2 inhibition reduces neutrophil migration toward tumor spheroids. These results shed new light on the tumor-promoting mechanisms of human neutrophils and the tumor-suppressive mechanisms of CXCR2 inhibition in pancreatic cancer and may aid in the design and optimization of novel immunotherapeutic strategies based on neutrophils.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Shao
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
| | - Nikki A Delk
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Caroline N Jones
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jackson CE, Green NH, English WR, Claeyssens F. The use of microphysiological systems to model metastatic cancer. Biofabrication 2024; 16:032002. [PMID: 38579739 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad3b70] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the 21st century, with metastasis of cancer attributing to 90% of cancer-related deaths. Therefore, to improve patient outcomes there is a need for better preclinical models to increase the success of translating oncological therapies into the clinic. Current traditional staticin vitromodels lack a perfusable network which is critical to overcome the diffusional mass transfer limit to provide a mechanism for the exchange of essential nutrients and waste removal, and increase their physiological relevance. Furthermore, these models typically lack cellular heterogeneity and key components of the immune system and tumour microenvironment. This review explores rapidly developing strategies utilising perfusable microphysiological systems (MPS) for investigating cancer cell metastasis. In this review we initially outline the mechanisms of cancer metastasis, highlighting key steps and identifying the current gaps in our understanding of the metastatic cascade, exploring MPS focused on investigating the individual steps of the metastatic cascade before detailing the latest MPS which can investigate multiple components of the cascade. This review then focuses on the factors which can affect the performance of an MPS designed for cancer applications with a final discussion summarising the challenges and future directions for the use of MPS for cancer models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E Jackson
- Materials Science and Engineering, The Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, United Kingdom
- Insigneo Institute for In Silico Medicine, The Pam Liversidge Building, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola H Green
- Materials Science and Engineering, The Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, United Kingdom
- Insigneo Institute for In Silico Medicine, The Pam Liversidge Building, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom
| | - William R English
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR3 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Frederik Claeyssens
- Materials Science and Engineering, The Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, United Kingdom
- Insigneo Institute for In Silico Medicine, The Pam Liversidge Building, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lee M, Kim S, Lee SY, Son JG, Park J, Park S, Yeun J, Lee TG, Im SG, Jeon JS. Hydrophobic surface induced pro-metastatic cancer cells for in vitro extravasation models. Bioact Mater 2024; 34:401-413. [PMID: 38282966 PMCID: PMC10819557 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
In vitro vascularized cancer models utilizing microfluidics have emerged as a promising tool for mechanism study and drug screening. However, the lack of consideration and preparation methods for cancer cellular sources that are capable of adequately replicating the metastatic features of circulating tumor cells contributed to low relevancy with in vivo experimental results. Here, we show that the properties of cancer cellular sources have a considerable impact on the validity of the in vitro metastasis model. Notably, with a hydrophobic surface, we can create highly metastatic spheroids equipped with aggressive invasion, endothelium adhesion capabilities, and activated metabolic features. Combining these metastatic spheroids with the well-constructed microfluidic-based extravasation model, we validate that these metastatic spheroids exhibited a distinct extravasation response to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and normal human lung fibroblasts compared to the 2D cultured cancer cells, which is consistent with the previously reported results of in vivo experiments. Furthermore, the applicability of the developed model as a therapeutic screening platform for cancer extravasation is validated through profiling and inhibition of cytokines. We believe this model incorporating hydrophobic surface-cultured 3D cancer cells provides reliable experimental data in a clear and concise manner, bridging the gap between the conventional in vitro models and in vivo experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minseok Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daehak-ro 291, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunggyu Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daehak-ro 291, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Young Lee
- Bioimaging Team, Safety Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), Gajeong-ro 267, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Gyeong Son
- Bioimaging Team, Safety Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), Gajeong-ro 267, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Joonha Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daehak-ro 291, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seonghyeon Park
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daehak-ro 291, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jemin Yeun
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daehak-ro 291, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Geol Lee
- Bioimaging Team, Safety Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), Gajeong-ro 267, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Gap Im
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daehak-ro 291, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- KAIST Institute for the NanoCentury (KINC), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daehak-ro 291, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jessie S. Jeon
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daehak-ro 291, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Qian Z, Wang Z, Zhu K, Yang K, Wu L, Zong S, Wang Z. A SERS-assisted 3D organotypic microfluidic chip for in-situ visualization and monitoring breast cancer extravasation process. Talanta 2024; 270:125633. [PMID: 38199123 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125633] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Extravasation, as one of the key steps in cancer metastasis, refers to the process where tumor cells escape the bloodstream by crossing the vascular endothelium and invade the targeted tissue, which accounts for the low five-year survival rate of cancer patients. Understanding the mechanism of cancer metastasis and inhibiting extravasation are crucial to improve patient prognosis. Here, a 3D organotypic microfluidic chip combined with SERS-based protein imprinted nanomaterials (SPINs) was proposed to study the extravasation process in vitro. The chip consists of a collagen gel channel and a vascular channel where human vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and breast cancer cells are injected sequentially to induce extravasation. By comparing two subtypes of breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), we successfully observed the difference in extravasation capabilities between two kinds of cells through fluorescence imaging. Meanwhile, thanks to the high specificity of molecular imprinting technology and the high sensitivity of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), SPINs were utilized to analyze the concentration of several cancer secretions (interleukin-6 and interleukin-8) in complex biological fluid in real-time. Further, our model showed that downregulation of secretions by therapeutic drugs can inhibit the extravasation of breast cancers. This microfluidic model may pave the way for the fundamental research of the cancer metastasis and evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of potential drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziting Qian
- Advanced Photonics Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Zuyao Wang
- Advanced Photonics Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Kai Zhu
- Advanced Photonics Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Kuo Yang
- Advanced Photonics Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Lei Wu
- Advanced Photonics Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Shenfei Zong
- Advanced Photonics Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Zhuyuan Wang
- Advanced Photonics Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bersini S, Arrigoni C, Talò G, Candrian C, Moretti M. Complex or not too complex? One size does not fit all in next generation microphysiological systems. iScience 2024; 27:109199. [PMID: 38433912 PMCID: PMC10904982 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
In the attempt to overcome the increasingly recognized shortcomings of existing in vitro and in vivo models, researchers have started to implement alternative models, including microphysiological systems. First examples were represented by 2.5D systems, such as microfluidic channels covered by cell monolayers as blood vessel replicates. In recent years, increasingly complex microphysiological systems have been developed, up to multi-organ on chip systems, connecting different 3D tissues in the same device. However, such an increase in model complexity raises several questions about their exploitation and implementation into industrial and clinical applications, ranging from how to improve their reproducibility, robustness, and reliability to how to meaningfully and efficiently analyze the huge amount of heterogeneous datasets emerging from these devices. Considering the multitude of envisaged applications for microphysiological systems, it appears now necessary to tailor their complexity on the intended purpose, being academic or industrial, and possibly combine results deriving from differently complex stages to increase their predictive power.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Bersini
- Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, via Chiesa 5, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Surgery, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, via Tesserete 46, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Euler Institute, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), via Buffi 13, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Arrigoni
- Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, via Chiesa 5, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Surgery, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, via Tesserete 46, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Euler Institute, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), via Buffi 13, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Giuseppe Talò
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi – Sant’Ambrogio, via Cristina Belgioioso 173, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Christian Candrian
- Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Surgery, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, via Tesserete 46, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Euler Institute, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), via Buffi 13, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Moretti
- Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, via Chiesa 5, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Surgery, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, via Tesserete 46, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Euler Institute, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), via Buffi 13, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi – Sant’Ambrogio, via Cristina Belgioioso 173, 20157 Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ko J, Song J, Choi N, Kim HN. Patient-Derived Microphysiological Systems for Precision Medicine. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2303161. [PMID: 38010253 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Patient-derived microphysiological systems (P-MPS) have emerged as powerful tools in precision medicine that provide valuable insight into individual patient characteristics. This review discusses the development of P-MPS as an integration of patient-derived samples, including patient-derived cells, organoids, and induced pluripotent stem cells, into well-defined MPSs. Emphasizing the necessity of P-MPS development, its significance as a nonclinical assessment approach that bridges the gap between traditional in vitro models and clinical outcomes is highlighted. Additionally, guidance is provided for engineering approaches to develop microfluidic devices and high-content analysis for P-MPSs, enabling high biological relevance and high-throughput experimentation. The practical implications of the P-MPS are further examined by exploring the clinically relevant outcomes obtained from various types of patient-derived samples. The construction and analysis of these diverse samples within the P-MPS have resulted in physiologically relevant data, paving the way for the development of personalized treatment strategies. This study describes the significance of the P-MPS in precision medicine, as well as its unique capacity to offer valuable insights into individual patient characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jihoon Ko
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoung Song
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Nam Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Yonsei-KIST Convergence Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhu L, Tang Q, Mao Z, Chen H, Wu L, Qin Y. Microfluidic-based platforms for cell-to-cell communication studies. Biofabrication 2023; 16:012005. [PMID: 38035370 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad1116] [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: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Intercellular communication is critical to the understanding of human health and disease progression. However, compared to traditional methods with inefficient analysis, microfluidic co-culture technologies developed for cell-cell communication research can reliably analyze crucial biological processes, such as cell signaling, and monitor dynamic intercellular interactions under reproducible physiological cell co-culture conditions. Moreover, microfluidic-based technologies can achieve precise spatial control of two cell types at the single-cell level with high throughput. Herein, this review focuses on recent advances in microfluidic-based 2D and 3D devices developed to confine two or more heterogeneous cells in the study of intercellular communication and decipher the advantages and limitations of these models in specific cellular research scenarios. This review will stimulate the development of more functionalized microfluidic platforms for biomedical research, inspiring broader interests across various disciplines to better comprehend cell-cell communication and other fields, such as tumor heterogeneity and drug screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lvyang Zhu
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Qu Tang
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenzhen Mao
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Huanhuan Chen
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Wu
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuling Qin
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Banerjee M, Devi Rajeswari V. A novel cross-communication of HIF-1α and HIF-2α with Wnt signaling in TNBC and influence of hypoxic microenvironment in the formation of an organ-on-chip model of breast cancer. Med Oncol 2023; 40:245. [PMID: 37454033 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02112-8] [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: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The microenvironment role is very important in cancer development. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the cancer cells depends upon specific signaling and microenvironmental conditions, such as hypoxic conditions. The crosstalk between hypoxia and Wnt signaling through some molecular mechanism in TNBC is related. Cross-communication between hypoxia and Wnt signaling in cancer cells is known, but the detailed mechanism in TNBC is unknown. This review includes the role of the hypoxia microenvironment in TNBC and the novel crosstalk of the Wnt signaling and hypoxia. When targeted, the new pathway and crosstalk link may be a solution for metastatic TNBC and chemoresistance. The microenvironment influences cancer's metastasis, which changes from person to person. Therefore, organ-on-a-chip is a very novel model to test the drugs clinically before going for human trials, focusing on personalized medications can be done. The effect of the hypoxia microenvironment on breast cancer stem cells is still unknown. Apart from all the published papers, this paper mainly focuses only on the hypoxic microenvironment and its association with the growth of TNBC. The medicines or small proteins, drugs, mimics, and inhibitors targeting wnt and hypoxia genes are consolidated in this review paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manosi Banerjee
- Department of Biomedical Science, School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - V Devi Rajeswari
- Department of Biomedical Science, School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li W, Zhou Z, Zhou X, Khoo BL, Gunawan R, Chin YR, Zhang L, Yi C, Guan X, Yang M. 3D Biomimetic Models to Reconstitute Tumor Microenvironment In Vitro: Spheroids, Organoids, and Tumor-on-a-Chip. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202609. [PMID: 36917657 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Decades of efforts in engineering in vitro cancer models have advanced drug discovery and the insight into cancer biology. However, the establishment of preclinical models that enable fully recapitulating the tumor microenvironment remains challenging owing to its intrinsic complexity. Recent progress in engineering techniques has allowed the development of a new generation of in vitro preclinical models that can recreate complex in vivo tumor microenvironments and accurately predict drug responses, including spheroids, organoids, and tumor-on-a-chip. These biomimetic 3D tumor models are of particular interest as they pave the way for better understanding of cancer biology and accelerating the development of new anticancer therapeutics with reducing animal use. Here, the recent advances in developing these in vitro platforms for cancer modeling and preclinical drug screening, focusing on incorporating hydrogels are reviewed to reconstitute physiologically relevant microenvironments. The combination of spheroids/organoids with microfluidic technologies is also highlighted to better mimic in vivo tumors and discuss the challenges and future directions in the clinical translation of such models for drug screening and personalized medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiu Li
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Zhihang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Bee Luan Khoo
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Renardi Gunawan
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Y Rebecca Chin
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Changqing Yi
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Center of Advanced and Portable Medical Devices, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 518107, China
| | - Xinyuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Mengsu Yang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Fröhlich E. The Variety of 3D Breast Cancer Models for the Study of Tumor Physiology and Drug Screening. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087116. [PMID: 37108283 PMCID: PMC10139112 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and responsible for multiple deaths worldwide. 3D cancer models enable a better representation of tumor physiology than the conventional 2D cultures. This review summarizes the important components of physiologically relevant 3D models and describes the spectrum of 3D breast cancer models, e.g., spheroids, organoids, breast cancer on a chip and bioprinted tissues. The generation of spheroids is relatively standardized and easy to perform. Microfluidic systems allow control over the environment and the inclusion of sensors and can be combined with spheroids or bioprinted models. The strength of bioprinting relies on the spatial control of the cells and the modulation of the extracellular matrix. Except for the predominant use of breast cancer cell lines, the models differ in stromal cell composition, matrices and fluid flow. Organoids are most appropriate for personalized treatment, but all technologies can mimic most aspects of breast cancer physiology. Fetal bovine serum as a culture supplement and Matrigel as a scaffold limit the reproducibility and standardization of the listed 3D models. The integration of adipocytes is needed because they possess an important role in breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonore Fröhlich
- Center for Medical Research, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering GmbH, 8010 Graz, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ngo H, Amartumur S, Tran VTA, Tran M, Diep YN, Cho H, Lee LP. In Vitro Tumor Models on Chip and Integrated Microphysiological Analysis Platform (MAP) for Life Sciences and High-Throughput Drug Screening. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:231. [PMID: 36831997 PMCID: PMC9954135 DOI: 10.3390/bios13020231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of preclinical in vitro cancer models has led to the emergence of human cancer-on-chip or microphysiological analysis platforms (MAPs). Although it has numerous advantages compared to other models, cancer-on-chip technology still faces several challenges such as the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and integrating multiple organs to be widely accepted in cancer research and therapeutics. In this review, we highlight the advancements in cancer-on-chip technology in recapitulating the vital biological features of various cancer types and their applications in life sciences and high-throughput drug screening. We present advances in reconstituting the tumor microenvironment and modeling cancer stages in breast, brain, and other types of cancer. We also discuss the relevance of MAPs in cancer modeling and precision medicine such as effect of flow on cancer growth and the short culture period compared to clinics. The advanced MAPs provide high-throughput platforms with integrated biosensors to monitor real-time cellular responses applied in drug development. We envision that the integrated cancer MAPs has a promising future with regard to cancer research, including cancer biology, drug discovery, and personalized medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huyen Ngo
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Sarnai Amartumur
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Van Thi Ai Tran
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Minh Tran
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Yen N. Diep
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Hansang Cho
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Luke P. Lee
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Proietto M, Crippa M, Damiani C, Pasquale V, Sacco E, Vanoni M, Gilardi M. Tumor heterogeneity: preclinical models, emerging technologies, and future applications. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1164535. [PMID: 37188201 PMCID: PMC10175698 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1164535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity describes the differences among cancer cells within and between tumors. It refers to cancer cells describing variations in morphology, transcriptional profiles, metabolism, and metastatic potential. More recently, the field has included the characterization of the tumor immune microenvironment and the depiction of the dynamics underlying the cellular interactions promoting the tumor ecosystem evolution. Heterogeneity has been found in most tumors representing one of the most challenging behaviors in cancer ecosystems. As one of the critical factors impairing the long-term efficacy of solid tumor therapy, heterogeneity leads to tumor resistance, more aggressive metastasizing, and recurrence. We review the role of the main models and the emerging single-cell and spatial genomic technologies in our understanding of tumor heterogeneity, its contribution to lethal cancer outcomes, and the physiological challenges to consider in designing cancer therapies. We highlight how tumor cells dynamically evolve because of the interactions within the tumor immune microenvironment and how to leverage this to unleash immune recognition through immunotherapy. A multidisciplinary approach grounded in novel bioinformatic and computational tools will allow reaching the integrated, multilayered knowledge of tumor heterogeneity required to implement personalized, more efficient therapies urgently required for cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Proietto
- Next Generation Sequencing Core, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Martina Crippa
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Experimental Imaging Center, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Damiani
- Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe /Centre of Systems Biology (ISBE/SYSBIO) Centre of Systems Biology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, School of Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Pasquale
- Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe /Centre of Systems Biology (ISBE/SYSBIO) Centre of Systems Biology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, School of Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Sacco
- Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe /Centre of Systems Biology (ISBE/SYSBIO) Centre of Systems Biology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, School of Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Vanoni
- Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe /Centre of Systems Biology (ISBE/SYSBIO) Centre of Systems Biology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, School of Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Marco Vanoni, ; Mara Gilardi,
| | - Mara Gilardi
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Salk Cancer Center, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Marco Vanoni, ; Mara Gilardi,
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Huang CBX, Tu TY. Recent advances in vascularized tumor-on-a-chip. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1150332. [PMID: 37064144 PMCID: PMC10099572 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1150332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The vasculature plays a critical role in cancer progression and metastasis, representing a pivotal aspect in the creation of cancer models. In recent years, the emergence of organ-on-a-chip technology has proven to be a robust tool, capable of replicating in vivo conditions with exceptional spatiotemporal resolution, making it a significant asset in cancer research. This review delves into the latest developments in 3D microfluidic vascularized tumor models and their applications in vitro, focusing on heterotypic cellular interactions, the mechanisms of metastasis, and therapeutic screening. Additionally, the review examines the benefits and drawbacks of these models, as well as the future prospects for their advancement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ting-Yuan Tu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Ting-Yuan Tu,
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Kim S, Wan Z, Jeon JS, Kamm RD. Microfluidic vascular models of tumor cell extravasation. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1052192. [PMID: 36439519 PMCID: PMC9698448 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1052192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging microfluidic disease models have amply demonstrated their value in many fields of cancer research. These in vitro technologies recapitulate key aspects of metastatic cancer, including the process of tumor cell arrest and extravasation at the site of the metastatic tumor. To date, extensive efforts have been made to capture key features of the microvasculature to reconstitute the pre-metastatic niche and investigate dynamic extravasation behaviors using microfluidic systems. In this mini-review, we highlight recent microfluidic vascular models of tumor cell extravasation and explore how this approach contributes to development of in vitro disease models to enhance understanding of metastasis in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seunggyu Kim
- Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Biomicrofluidics Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Zhengpeng Wan
- Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Jessie S. Jeon
- Biomicrofluidics Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Mayo LN, Kutys ML. Conversation before crossing: dissecting metastatic tumor-vascular interactions in microphysiological systems. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 323:C1333-C1344. [PMID: 36121131 PMCID: PMC9602802 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00173.2022] [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: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Tumor metastasis via the circulation requires crossing the vascular barrier twice: first, during intravasation when tumor cells disseminate from the primary site through proximal vasculature, and second, during extravasation, when tumor cells exit the circulation to form distant metastatic seeds. During these key metastatic events, chemomechanical signaling between tumor cells and endothelial cells elicits reciprocal changes in cell morphology and behavior that are necessary to breach the vessel wall. Existing experimental systems have provided a limited understanding of the diverse mechanisms underlying tumor-endothelial interactions during intravasation and extravasation. Recent advances in microphysiological systems have revolutionized the ability to generate miniaturized human tissues with tailored three-dimensional architectures, physiological cell interfaces, and precise chemical and physical microenvironments. By doing so, microphysiological systems enable experimental access to complex morphogenic processes associated with human tumor progression with unprecedented resolution and biological control. Here, we discuss recent examples in which microphysiological systems have been leveraged to reveal new mechanistic insight into cellular and molecular control systems operating at the tumor-endothelial interface during intravasation and extravasation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lakyn N Mayo
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Matthew L Kutys
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Crippa M, Talò G, Lamouline A, Bolis S, Arrigoni C, Bersini S, Moretti M. A microfluidic model of human vascularized breast cancer metastasis to bone for the study of neutrophil-cancer cell interactions. Mater Today Bio 2022; 17:100460. [PMID: 36278146 PMCID: PMC9583110 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The organ-specific metastatization of breast cancer to bone is driven by specific interactions between the host microenvironment and cancer cells (CCs). However, it is still unclear the role that circulating immune cells, including neutrophils, play during bone colonization (i.e. pro-tumoral vs. anti-tumoral). Here, we aimed at analyzing the migratory behavior of neutrophils when exposed to breast CCs colonizing the bone and their contribution to the growth of breast cancer micrometastases. Based on our previous bone metastasis models, we designed a microfluidic system that allows to independently introduce human vascularized breast cancer metastatic seeds within a bone-mimicking microenvironment containing osteo-differentiated mesenchymal stromal cells and endothelial cells (ECs). ECs self-assembled into microvascular networks and connected the bone-mimicking microenvironment with the metastatic seed. Compared to controls without CCs, metastatic seeds compromised the architecture of microvascular networks resulting in a lower number of junctions (5.7 ± 1.2 vs. 18.8 ± 4.5, p = 0.025) and shorter network length (10.5 ± 1.0 vs. 13.4 ± 0.8 [mm], p = 0.042). Further, vascular permeability was significantly higher with CCs (2.60 × 10-8 ± 3.59 × 10-8 vs. 0.53 × 10-8 ± 0.44 × 10-8 [cm/s], p = 0.05). Following metastatic seed maturation, neutrophils were injected into microvascular networks resulting in a higher extravasation rate when CCs were present (27.9 ± 13.7 vs. 14.7 ± 12.4 [%], p = 0.01). Strikingly, the percentage of dying CCs increased in presence of neutrophils, as confirmed by confocal imaging and flow cytometry on isolated cells from the metastatic seeds. The biofabricated metastatic niche represents a powerful tool to analyze the mechanisms of interaction between circulating immune cells and organ-specific micrometastases and to test novel drug combinations targeting the metastatic microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Crippa
- Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland,Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Surgery, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland,Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Talò
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano, Italy
| | - Anaïs Lamouline
- Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland,Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Surgery, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland,Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Sara Bolis
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Arrigoni
- Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland,Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Surgery, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Simone Bersini
- Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland,Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Surgery, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland,Corresponding author. Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
| | - Matteo Moretti
- Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland,Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Surgery, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland,Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano, Italy,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland,Corresponding author. Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Yin N, Liu X, Ye X, Song W, Lu J, Chen X. PD-1 inhibitor therapy causes multisystem immune adverse reactions: a case report and literature review. Front Oncol 2022; 12:961266. [PMID: 36119464 PMCID: PMC9478917 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.961266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs), including cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (anti-CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein 1 and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors, have been shown to have antitumor activity in various solid tumors. Their mechanism of action is to selectively restore and normalize the body’s immune reponses by disrupting the immunosuppressive signals mediated by PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 in the tumor microenvironment. With the increase in clinical applications of ICIs, reports of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have also increased. This article reports a case of a lung cancer patient who developed multisystemic adverse effects after PD-1 inhibitor application: myocarditis, myositis and thrombocytopenia, and analyzes the role of Interleukin 6(IL-6)in the management of irAEs. Despite the patient’s eventual discontinuation of antitumor therapy due to severe irAEs, a significant and durable therapeutic response was observed.
Collapse
|
18
|
Gilardi M, Bersini S, Valtorta S, Proietto M, Crippa M, Boussommier-Calleja A, Labelle M, Moresco RM, Vanoni M, Kamm RD, Moretti M. The driving role of the Cdk5/Tln1/FAK S732 axis in cancer cell extravasation dissected by human vascularized microfluidic models. Biomaterials 2021; 276:120975. [PMID: 34333365 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the molecular mechanisms of metastatic dissemination, the leading cause of death in cancer patients, is required to develop novel, effective therapies. Extravasation, an essential rate-limiting process in the metastatic cascade, includes three tightly coordinated steps: cancer cell adhesion to the endothelium, trans-endothelial migration, and early invasion into the secondary site. Focal adhesion proteins, including Tln1 and FAK, regulate the cytoskeleton dynamics: dysregulation of these proteins is often associated with metastatic progression and poor prognosis. METHODS Here, we studied the previously unexplored role of these targets in each extravasation step using engineered 3D in vitro models, which recapitulate the physiological vascular niche experienced by cancer cells during hematogenous metastasis. RESULTS Human breast cancer and fibrosarcoma cell lines respond to Cdk5/Tln1/FAK axis perturbation, impairing their metastatic potential. Vascular breaching requires actin polymerization-dependent invadopodia formation. Invadopodia generation requires the structural function of FAK and Tln1 rather than their activation through phosphorylation. Our data support that the inhibition of FAKS732 phosphorylation delocalizes ERK from the nucleus, decreasing ERK phosphorylated form. These findings indicate the critical role of these proteins in driving trans-endothelial migration. In fact, both knock-down experiments and chemical inhibition of FAK dramatically reduces lung colonization in vivo and TEM in microfluidic setting. Altogether, these data indicate that engineered 3D in vitro models coupled to in vivo models, genetic, biochemical, and imaging tools represent a powerful weapon to increase our understanding of metastatic progression. CONCLUSIONS These findings point to the need for further analyses of previously overlooked phosphorylation sites of FAK, such as the serine 732, and foster the development of new effective antimetastatic treatments targeting late events of the metastatic cascade.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mara Gilardi
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano, Italy; Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy; Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Simone Bersini
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano, Italy; Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.
| | - Silvia Valtorta
- Università Degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Department of Medicine and Surgery and Tecnomed Foundation, Monza, Italy; Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology of National Researches Council (IBFM-CNR), Segrate, Italy.
| | - Marco Proietto
- Department of Biology-University of California - San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Martina Crippa
- Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland; Laboratory of Biological Structures Mechanics, Chemistry, Material and Chemical Engineering Department "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alexandra Boussommier-Calleja
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA.
| | - Myriam Labelle
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Rosa Maria Moresco
- Università Degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Department of Medicine and Surgery and Tecnomed Foundation, Monza, Italy; Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology of National Researches Council (IBFM-CNR), Segrate, Italy.
| | - Marco Vanoni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy; ISBE.IT/ Centre of Systems Biology, Milano, Italy.
| | - Roger D Kamm
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA.
| | - Matteo Moretti
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano, Italy; Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland; Euler Institute, Biomedical Sciences Faculty, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Song K, Zu X, Du Z, Hu Z, Wang J, Li J. Diversity Models and Applications of 3D Breast Tumor-on-a-Chip. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12070814. [PMID: 34357224 PMCID: PMC8306159 DOI: 10.3390/mi12070814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Breast disease is one of the critical diseases that plague females, as is known, breast cancer has high mortality, despite significant pathophysiological progress during the past few years. Novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are needed to break the stalemate. An organ-on-chip approach is considered due to its ability to repeat the real conditions found in the body on microfluidic chips, offsetting the shortcomings of traditional 2D culture and animal tests. In recent years, the organ-on-chip approach has shown diversity, recreating the structure and functional units of the real organs/tissues. The applications were also developed rapidly from the laboratory to the industrialized market. This review focuses on breast tumor-on-a-chip approaches concerning the diversity models and applications. The models are summarized and categorized by typical biological reconstitution, considering the design and fabrication of the various breast models. The breast tumor-on-a-chip approach is a typical representative of organ chips, which are one of the precedents in the market. The applications are roughly divided into two categories: fundamental mechanism research and biological medicine. Finally, we discuss the prospect and deficiencies of the emerging technology. It has excellent prospects in all of the application fields, however there exist some deficiencies for promotion, such as the stability of the structure and function, and uniformity for quantity production.
Collapse
|
20
|
Moccia C, Haase K. Engineering Breast Cancer On-chip-Moving Toward Subtype Specific Models. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:694218. [PMID: 34249889 PMCID: PMC8261144 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.694218] [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: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women worldwide, and while hormone receptor positive subtypes have a clear and effective treatment strategy, other subtypes, such as triple negative breast cancers, do not. Development of new drugs, antibodies, or immune targets requires significant re-consideration of current preclinical models, which frequently fail to mimic the nuances of patient-specific breast cancer subtypes. Each subtype, together with the expression of different markers, genetic and epigenetic profiles, presents a unique tumor microenvironment, which promotes tumor development and progression. For this reason, personalized treatments targeting components of the tumor microenvironment have been proposed to mitigate breast cancer progression, particularly for aggressive triple negative subtypes. To-date, animal models remain the gold standard for examining new therapeutic targets; however, there is room for in vitro tools to bridge the biological gap with humans. Tumor-on-chip technologies allow for precise control and examination of the tumor microenvironment and may add to the toolbox of current preclinical models. These new models include key aspects of the tumor microenvironment (stroma, vasculature and immune cells) which have been employed to understand metastases, multi-organ interactions, and, importantly, to evaluate drug efficacy and toxicity in humanized physiologic systems. This review provides insight into advanced in vitro tumor models specific to breast cancer, and discusses their potential and limitations for use as future preclinical patient-specific tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristina Haase
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Molecular Biology Laboratory Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|