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Zou J, Chen Q, He Y, Pan Y, Zhao H, Shi J, Wei Z, Yu S, Zhao Y, Han X, Lu Y, Chen W. Systematic optimization and evaluation of culture conditions for the construction of circulating tumor cell clusters using breast cancer cell lines. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:507. [PMID: 38654231 PMCID: PMC11036701 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12214-9] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters play a critical role in carcinoma metastasis. However, the rarity of CTC clusters and the limitations of capture techniques have retarded the research progress. In vitro CTC clusters model can help to further understand the biological properties of CTC clusters and their clinical significance. Therefore, it is necessary to establish reliable in vitro methodological models to form CTC clusters whose biological characteristics are very similar to clinical CTC clusters. METHODS The assays of immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, EdU incorporation, cell adhension and microfluidic chips were used. The experimental metastasis model in mice was used. RESULTS We systematically optimized the culture methods to form in vitro CTC clusters model, and more importantly, evaluated it with reference to the biological capabilities of reported clinical CTC clusters. In vitro CTC clusters exhibited a high degree of similarity to the reported pathological characteristics of CTC clusters isolated from patients at different stages of tumor metastasis, including the appearance morphology, size, adhesive and tight junctions-associated proteins, and other indicators of CTC clusters. Furthermore, in vivo experiments also demonstrated that the CTC clusters had an enhanced ability to grow and metastasize compared to single CTC. CONCLUSIONS The study provides a reliable model to help to obtain comparatively stable and qualified CTC clusters in vitro, propelling the studies on tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jueyao Zou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qiong Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yong He
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yanhong Pan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Han Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Junfeng Shi
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing First Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhonghong Wei
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Suyun Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing, China
| | - Yin Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China.
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China.
| | - Wenxing Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China.
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China.
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Campenni M, May AN, Boddy A, Harris V, Nedelcu AM. Agent-based modelling reveals strategies to reduce the fitness and metastatic potential of circulating tumour cell clusters. Evol Appl 2020; 13:1635-1650. [PMID: 32821275 PMCID: PMC7428819 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis-the ability of cancer cells to disperse throughout the body and establish new tumours at distant locations-is responsible for most cancer-related deaths. Although both single and clusters of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) have been isolated from cancer patients, CTC clusters are generally associated with higher metastatic potential and worse prognosis. From an evolutionary perspective, being part of a cluster can provide cells with several benefits both in terms of survival (e.g. protection) and reproduction (group dispersal). Thus, strategies aimed at inducing cluster dissociation could decrease the metastatic potential of CTCs. However, finding agents or conditions that induce the dissociation of CTC clusters is hampered by the fact that their detection, isolation and propagation remain challenging. Here, we used a mechanistic agent-based model to (a) investigate the response of CTC clusters of various sizes and densities to different challenges-in terms of cell survival and cluster stability, and (b) make predictions as to the combination of factors and parameter values that could decrease the fitness and metastatic potential of CTC clusters. Our model shows that the resilience and stability of CTC clusters are dependent on both their size and density. Also, CTC clusters of distinct sizes and densities respond differently to changes in resource availability, with high-density clusters being least affected. In terms of responses to microenvironmental threats (such as drugs), increasing their intensity is, generally, least effective on high-density clusters. Lastly, we found that combining various levels of resource availability and threat intensity can be more effective at decreasing the survival of CTC clusters than each factor alone. We suggest that the complex effects that cluster density and size showed on both the resilience and stability of the CTC clusters are likely to have significant consequences for their metastatic potential and responses to therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Campenni
- BiosciencesUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
- Department of PsychologyArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
| | - Alexander N. May
- Research Casting InternationalQuinte WestONCanada
- Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
| | - Amy Boddy
- Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
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