Diffusion‐induced anisotropic cancer invasion: A novel experimental method based on tumor spheroids. Issue 7 (16th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferraro, Rosalia; Ascione, Flora; Dogra, Prashant; Cristini, Vittorio; Guido, Stefano; Caserta, Sergio
• Is Part Of: AIChE journal. Volume 68:Issue 7(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-03-16
• Subjects: chemotaxis -- diffusional instability -- time‐lapse microscopy -- transport phenomena -- tumor spheroids; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; 660.28
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.17678
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-1541

Abstract

Abstract: Tumor invasion is strongly influenced by microenvironment and, among other parameters, chemical stimuli play an important role. An innovative methodology for the quantitative investigation of chemotaxis in vitro by live imaging of morphology of cell spheroids, in 3D collagen gel, is presented here. The assay was performed by using a chemotactic chamber to impose a controlled gradients of nutrients (glucose) on spheroids, mimicking the chemotactic stimuli naturally occurring in the proximity of blood vessels. Different tumoral cell lines (PANC‐1 and HT‐1080) are compared to non‐tumoral ones (NIH/3T3). Morphology response is observed by means a Time‐lapse workstation equipped with an incubating system and quantified by image analysis techniques. Description of invasion phenomena was based on an engineering approach, based on transport phenomena concepts. As expected, NIH/3T3 spheroids are characterized by a limited tendency of cells to invade the surrounding tissue, unlike PANC‐1 and HT‐1080 that show relatively stronger response to gradients.