3D simplifed model to investigate metastatic mechanisms
December 2015
Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
Tumor microenvironment is a critical factor in cancer development. Currently, in vitro methods to model cancer rely on monolayer cultures that poorly reproduce the complex environmental context. Although 3D models are rising as an alternative in cancer modelling, there are still severe limitations. Here, a paper-based platform with co-cultures of primary human lung tumor cells and fibroblasts were used to investigate the influence of tumor microenvironment in cancer cells. The results showed that cancer cells migrated towards the layers with fibroblasts and this was exacerbated when directly co-cultured together. This effect was hindered by TGF-beta inhibition, which also reduced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Overall, the researchers develop a simple method to produce relevant 3D structures to study metastatic behaviour of cancer cells alone or in combination with other cell types.
Fibroblasts enhance migration of human lung cancer cells in a paper-based coculture system
George M Whitesides
Added on: 11-27-2021
[1] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adhm.201500709[2] https://data.jrc.ec.europa.eu/dataset/176d71e6-5082-4b29-8472-b719f6bda323
