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Sleeboom JJF, van Tienderen GS, Schenke-Layland K, van der Laan LJW, Khalil AA, Verstegen MMA. The extracellular matrix as hallmark of cancer and metastasis: From biomechanics to therapeutic targets. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadg3840. [PMID: 38170791 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg3840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential for cell support during homeostasis and plays a critical role in cancer. Although research often concentrates on the tumor's cellular aspect, attention is growing for the importance of the cancer-associated ECM. Biochemical and physical ECM signals affect tumor formation, invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Examining the tumor microenvironment uncovers intricate ECM dysregulation and interactions with cancer and stromal cells. Anticancer therapies targeting ECM sensors and remodelers, including integrins and matrix metalloproteinases, and ECM-remodeling cells, have seen limited success. This review explores the ECM's role in cancer and discusses potential therapeutic strategies for cell-ECM interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle J F Sleeboom
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Postbox 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628CD Delft, Netherlands
| | - Gilles S van Tienderen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Postbox 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Katja Schenke-Layland
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University Tübingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies," Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Luc J W van der Laan
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Postbox 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Antoine A Khalil
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Monique M A Verstegen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Postbox 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Tiemeijer BM, Descamps L, Hulleman J, Sleeboom JJF, Tel J. A Microfluidic Approach for Probing Heterogeneity in Cytotoxic T-Cells by Cell Pairing in Hydrogel Droplets. Micromachines (Basel) 2022; 13:1910. [PMID: 36363930 PMCID: PMC9692327 DOI: 10.3390/mi13111910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) exhibit strong effector functions to leverage antigen-specific anti-tumoral and anti-viral immunity. When naïve CTLs are activated by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) they display various levels of functional heterogeneity. To investigate this, we developed a single-cell droplet microfluidics platform that allows for deciphering single CTL activation profiles by multi-parameter analysis. We identified and correlated functional heterogeneity based on secretion profiles of IFNγ, TNFα, IL-2, and CD69 and CD25 surface marker expression levels. Furthermore, we strengthened our approach by incorporating low-melting agarose to encapsulate pairs of single CTLs and artificial APCs in hydrogel droplets, thereby preserving spatial information over cell pairs. This approach provides a robust tool for high-throughput and single-cell analysis of CTLs compatible with flow cytometry for subsequent analysis and sorting. The ability to score CTL quality, combined with various potential downstream analyses, could pave the way for the selection of potent CTLs for cell-based therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart M. Tiemeijer
- Laboratory of Immunoengineering, Department Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Lucie Descamps
- Laboratory of Immunoengineering, Department Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jesse Hulleman
- Laboratory of Immunoengineering, Department Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle J. F. Sleeboom
- Microsystems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jurjen Tel
- Laboratory of Immunoengineering, Department Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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Sleeboom JJF, Eslami Amirabadi H, Nair P, Sahlgren CM, den Toonder JMJ. Metastasis in context: modeling the tumor microenvironment with cancer-on-a-chip approaches. Dis Model Mech 2018; 11:11/3/dmm033100. [PMID: 29555848 PMCID: PMC5897732 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.033100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Most cancer deaths are not caused by the primary tumor, but by secondary tumors formed through metastasis, a complex and poorly understood process. Cues from the tumor microenvironment, such as the biochemical composition, cellular population, extracellular matrix, and tissue (fluid) mechanics, have been indicated to play a pivotal role in the onset of metastasis. Dissecting the role of these cues from the tumor microenvironment in a controlled manner is challenging, but essential to understanding metastasis. Recently, cancer-on-a-chip models have emerged as a tool to study the tumor microenvironment and its role in metastasis. These models are based on microfluidic chips and contain small chambers for cell culture, enabling control over local gradients, fluid flow, tissue mechanics, and composition of the local environment. Here, we review the recent contributions of cancer-on-a-chip models to our understanding of the role of the tumor microenvironment in the onset of metastasis, and provide an outlook for future applications of this emerging technology. Summary: This Review evaluates the recent contributions of cancer-on-a-chip models to our understanding of the tumor microenvironment and its role in the onset of metastasis. The authors also provide an outlook for future applications of this emerging technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle J F Sleeboom
- Microsystems Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gemini-Zuid, Groene Loper 15, 5612AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Soft Tissue Engineering & Mechanobiology, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gemini-Zuid, Groene Loper 15, 5612AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gemini-Zuid, Groene Loper 15, 5612AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Hossein Eslami Amirabadi
- Microsystems Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gemini-Zuid, Groene Loper 15, 5612AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gemini-Zuid, Groene Loper 15, 5612AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Poornima Nair
- Microsystems Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gemini-Zuid, Groene Loper 15, 5612AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gemini-Zuid, Groene Loper 15, 5612AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Cecilia M Sahlgren
- Soft Tissue Engineering & Mechanobiology, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gemini-Zuid, Groene Loper 15, 5612AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gemini-Zuid, Groene Loper 15, 5612AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Turku Centre for Biotechnology, Åbo Akademi University, Domkyrkotorget 3, FI-20500, Turku, Finland
| | - Jaap M J den Toonder
- Microsystems Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gemini-Zuid, Groene Loper 15, 5612AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands .,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gemini-Zuid, Groene Loper 15, 5612AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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Sleeboom JJF, Voudouris P, Punter MTJJM, Aangenendt FJ, Florea D, van der Schoot P, Wyss HM. Compression and Reswelling of Microgel Particles after an Osmotic Shock. Phys Rev Lett 2017; 119:098001. [PMID: 28949568 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.119.098001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We use dedicated microfluidic devices to expose soft hydrogel particles to a rapid change in the externally applied osmotic pressure and observe a surprising, nonmonotonic response: After an initial rapid compression, the particle slowly reswells to approximately its original size. We theoretically account for this behavior, enabling us to extract important material properties from a single microfluidic experiment, including the compressive modulus, the gel permeability, and the diffusivity of the osmolyte inside the gel. We expect our approach to be relevant to applications such as controlled release, chromatography, and responsive materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle J F Sleeboom
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Panayiotis Voudouris
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Melle T J J M Punter
- AMOLF, Theory Biomol. Matter, Science Park 104, 1098XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank J Aangenendt
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI), P.O. Box 902, 5600AX Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Florea
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Paul van der Schoot
- Department of Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Physics, Utrecht University, 3584CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans M Wyss
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI), P.O. Box 902, 5600AX Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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