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Ding K, Li H, Xu Q, Zhao Y, Wang K, Liu T. Real-time label-free three-dimensional invasion assay for anti-metastatic drug screening using impedance sensing. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1387949. [PMID: 38919253 PMCID: PMC11196599 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1387949] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor metastasis presents a formidable challenge in cancer treatment, necessitating effective tools for anti-cancer drug development. Conventional 2D cell culture methods, while considered the "gold standard" for invasive studies, exhibit limitations in representing cancer hallmarks and phenotypes. This study proposes an innovative approach that combines the advantages of 3D tumor spheroid culture with impedance-based biosensing technologies to establish a high-throughput 3D cell invasion assay for anti-metastasis drug screening through multicellular tumor spheroids. In addition, the xCELLigence device is employed to monitor the time-dependent kinetics of cell behavior, including attachment and invasion out of the 3D matrix. Moreover, an iron chelator (deferoxamine) is employed to monitor the inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in 3D spheroids across different tumor cell types. The above results indicate that our integrated 3D cell invasion assay with impedance-based sensing could be a promising tool for enhancing the quality of the drug development pipeline by providing a robust platform for predicting the efficacy and safety of anti-metastatic drugs before advancing into preclinical or clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ding
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hailong Li
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Qian Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yongmei Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Kaikai Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Tianqing Liu
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW, Australia
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Hakim M, Kermanshah L, Abouali H, Hashemi HM, Yari A, Khorasheh F, Alemzadeh I, Vossoughi M. Unraveling Cancer Metastatic Cascade Using Microfluidics-based Technologies. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:517-543. [PMID: 35528034 PMCID: PMC9043145 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-00944-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer has long been a leading cause of death. The primary tumor, however, is not the main cause of death in more than 90% of cases. It is the complex process of metastasis that makes cancer deadly. The invasion metastasis cascade is the multi-step biological process of cancer cell dissemination to distant organ sites and adaptation to the new microenvironment site. Unraveling the metastasis process can provide great insight into cancer death prevention or even treatment. Microfluidics is a promising platform, that provides a wide range of applications in metastasis-related investigations. Cell culture microfluidic technologies for in vitro modeling of cancer tissues with fluid flow and the presence of mechanical factors have led to the organ-on-a-chip platforms. Moreover, microfluidic systems have also been exploited for capturing and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that provide crucial information on the metastatic behavior of a tumor. We present a comprehensive review of the recent developments in the application of microfluidics-based systems for analysis and understanding of the metastasis cascade from a wider perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maziar Hakim
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leyla Kermanshah
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hesam Abouali
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hanieh Mohammad Hashemi
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Yari
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farhad Khorasheh
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Iran Alemzadeh
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Manouchehr Vossoughi
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
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Agrawal R, Windsor A, Lammerding J. Assembly and Use of a Microfluidic Device to Study Nuclear Mechanobiology During Confined Migration. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2502:329-349. [PMID: 35412249 PMCID: PMC9862508 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2337-4_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis, that is, the spreading of tumor cells from the primary tumor to distant sites, requires cancer cells to travel through pores substantially smaller than their cross section . This "confined migration" requires substantial deformation by the relatively large and rigid nucleus, which can impact nuclear compartmentalization, trigger cellular mechanotransduction pathways, and increase genomic instability. To improve our understanding of how cells perform and respond to confined migration, we developed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices in which cells migrate through a precisely controlled "field of pillars" that closely mimic the intermittent confinement of tumor microenvironments and interstitial spaces. The devices can be designed with various densities of pillars, ranging from a very low density that does not require nuclear deformation to high densities that present microenvironment conditions with severe confinement. The devices enable assessment of cellular fitness for confined migration based on the distance traveled through the constriction area over several days. In this protocol, we present two complementary techniques to generate silicon master molds for the device fabrication: (1) SU-8 soft lithography for rapid prototyping and for devices with relatively large features; and (2) reactive ion etching (RIE) to achieve finer features and more durable molds. In addition, we describe the production, use, and validation of the devices, along with the analysis pipeline for experiments using the devices with fluorescently labeled cells. Collectively, this protocol enables the study of confined migration and is readily amendable to investigate other aspects of confined migration mechanobiology, such as nuclear pore complex function in response to nuclear deformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richa Agrawal
- Weill Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Aaron Windsor
- Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14850, USA
| | - Jan Lammerding
- Weill Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA,Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA,Correspondence should be addressed to
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Abstract
The physical microenvironment of cells plays a fundamental role in regulating cellular behavior and cell fate, especially in the context of cancer metastasis. For example, capillary deformation can destroy arrested circulating tumor cells while the dense extracellular matrix can form a physical barrier for invading cancer cells. Understanding how metastatic cancer cells overcome the challenges brought forth by physical confinement can help in developing better therapeutics that can put a stop to this migratory stage of the metastatic cascade. Numerous in vivo and in vitro assays have been developed to recapitulate the metastatic processes and study cancer cell migration in a confining microenvironment. In this review, we summarize some of the representative techniques and the exciting new findings. We critically review the advantages, as well as challenges associated with these tools and methodologies, and provide a guide on the applications that they are most suited for. We hope future efforts that push forward our current understanding on metastasis under confinement can lead to novel and more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against this dreaded disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Jiang
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lanfeng Liang
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chwee Teck Lim
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Zheng Q, Zhang Q, Yu X, He Y, Guo W. FENDRR: A pivotal, cancer-related, long non-coding RNA. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 137:111390. [PMID: 33761608 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have more than 200 nucleotides and do not encode proteins. Based on numerous studies, lncRNAs have emerged as new and crucial regulators of biological function and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, especially cancers. Specific lncRNAs have been identified as novel molecular biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment efficacy. Fetal-lethal non-coding developmental regulatory RNA (FENDRR, also known as FOXF1-AS1) is a novel lncRNA that is located at chr3q13.31 and has four exons and 3099 nucleotides, and its genomic site is located at chr3q13.31. FENDRR is abnormally expressed in a variety of cancers and is significantly associated with different clinical characteristics. In addition, FENDRR has shown potential as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of FENDRR and its mechanistic role in cancer progression. We also discuss recent insights into the clinical significance of FENDRR for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Qiyao Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Yuting He
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
| | - Wenzhi Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
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Hou HH, Pan HJ, Liao WY, Lee CH, Yu CJ. Autophagy in fibroblasts induced by cigarette smoke extract promotes invasion in lung cancer cells. Int J Cancer 2020; 147:2587-2596. [PMID: 32488875 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on lung fibroblasts and found that the invasiveness of lung cancer cells was facilitated by the conditioned medium from CSE-treated fibroblasts. CSE induced autophagy in fibroblasts and increased the expression of autophagy-related proteins, including optineurin and Ras-related protein Rab1B. Afterward, the fibroblasts produced high levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), which promoted cancer cell invasion. The inhibition of either optineurin or Rab1B abrogated a rise in microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 β and a decrease in p62 protein, as well as the production of IL-8, in CSE-treated fibroblasts. A three-dimensional invasion assay using cancer cell spheroids revealed that the invasion of cancer cells alone and the fibroblast-led cancer cell invasion were both enhanced by the conditioned media from CSE-treated fibroblasts. These results suggest that cigarette smoke may induce autophagy and IL-8 secretion in lung fibroblasts and modify the microenvironment to favor invasion of lung cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Han Hou
- Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Huei-Jyuan Pan
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yu Liao
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chau-Hwang Lee
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chong-Jen Yu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Shinsato Y, Doyle AD, Li W, Yamada KM. Direct comparison of five different 3D extracellular matrix model systems for characterization of cancer cell migration. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2020; 3:e1257. [PMID: 33085847 PMCID: PMC7941507 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model systems can bridge the gap between regular two-dimensional cell culture and whole-animal studies. Analyses of cancer cell migration and invasion increasingly use differing 3D systems, which may produce conflicting findings. AIMS We directly compared different 3D extracellular matrix systems for studying cancer cell migration/invasion by analyzing cell morphologies and quantifying aspects of cell migration including speed and directional persistence using automated computer-based cell tracking. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed direct comparisons of five different 3D extracellular matrix cell culture systems using both HT1080 fibrosarcoma and MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cell lines. The reconstituted 3D systems included two types of collagen hydrogel and tissue matrix gel (TMG) vs cell-derived matrices extracted from cultured primary human or cancer-associated fibroblasts. The fibrillar matrix architecture of these systems differed. 3D rat tail collagen and TMG matrices had short, randomly oriented collagen fibrils; bovine collagen had long, larger fibril bundles; and the cell-derived matrices were strongly oriented. HT1080 cells displayed rounded morphologies in all three reconstituted 3D matrices but became spindle shaped in the two cell-derived matrices. MDA-MB-231 cell morphologies were elongated in all matrices. Quantitative measures of cell migration parameters differed markedly between the different types of 3D matrix. Comparing the reconstituted matrices, cells migrated the most rapidly and furthest in TMG. Comparing TMG with cell-derived matrices, cells migrated more efficiently in the cell-derived matrices. The most notable differences were in directional persistence of migration, which was greatest in the two cell-derived matrices. CONCLUSION The morphologies of matrix fibrils and cell shape, and particularly the efficiency and directionality of cell migration, differed substantially depending on the type of 3D matrix system. We suggest that it is important to employ the 3D model system that most closely resembles the matrix environment being studied for analyses of cancer cell migration and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinari Shinsato
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial ResearchNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Andrew D. Doyle
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial ResearchNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Weimin Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Elson S. Floyd College of MedicineWashington State UniversitySpokaneWashingtonUSA
| | - Kenneth M. Yamada
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial ResearchNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
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Kashani AS, Packirisamy M. Cancer cells optimize elasticity for efficient migration. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:200747. [PMID: 33204453 PMCID: PMC7657900 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Cancer progression is associated with alternations in the cytoskeletal architecture of cells and, consequently, their mechanical properties such as stiffness. Changing the mechanics of cells enables cancer cells to migrate and invade to distant organ sites. This process, metastasis, is the main reason for cancer-related mortality. Cell migration is an essential step towards increasing the invasive potential of cells. Although many studies have shown that the migratory speed and the invasion of cells can be inversely correlated to the stiffness of cells, some other investigations indicate opposing results. In the current work, based on the strain energy stored in cells due to the contractile forces, we defined an energy-dependent term, migratory index, to approximate how changes in the mechanical properties of cells influence cell migration required for cancer progression. Cell migration involves both cell deformation and force transmission within cells. The effects of these two parameters can be represented equally by the migratory index. Our mechanical modelling and computational study show that cells depending on their shape, size and other physical parameters have a maximum migratory index taking place at a specific range of cell bulk elasticity, indicating the most favourable conditions for invasive mobility. This approximate model could be used to explain why the stiffness of cells varies during cancer progression. We believe that the stiffness of cancer or malignant cells depending on the stiffness of their normal or non-malignant counterparts is either decreased or increased to reach the critical condition in which the mobility potential of cells is approximated to be maximum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Sohrabi Kashani
- Optical Bio-Microsystem Lab, Micro-Nano-Bio-Integration Center, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1M8
| | - Muthukumaran Packirisamy
- Optical Bio-Microsystem Lab, Micro-Nano-Bio-Integration Center, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1M8
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Bakal C, Sero J. The forces of cancer. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20190103. [PMID: 31431173 PMCID: PMC6627019 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Bakal
- Chester Beatty Laboratories, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Julia Sero
- University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
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