MB es apoyada por subvenciones de una beca MRC. KP y AHM son apoyados por subvenciones del Wessex de Investigación Médica y de Investigación del Cáncer del Reino Unido / RCS (Inglaterra) (C28503/A10013). Estamos agradecidos por el apoyo de la Universidad de la Unidad de Investigación Histoquímica Southampton.

1. Establecimiento de cultivos de fibroblastos primarios de colon explantes <ol><li> Obtener muestras de tejido normal de la mucosa del colon humano directamente de la sala de operaciones quirúrgica, y suspender en 7-10 ml de PBS suplementado con 100 unidades / ml de penicilina, 100 mg / ml de estreptomicina, y 0,25 mg / ml de Fungizone. </li><li> En el laboratorio, colocar la muestra en el centro de un 10 cm de placa de cultivo tisular y lavar 3 veces con PBS / Pen-Strep / Fungizone. No aspirar después del último lavado. </li><li> Con pinzas y bisturí estériles, cortar el tejido en trozos pequeños (aproximadamente 2 mm) y colocar cada pieza en el centro de una cruz dibujada con la hoja de bisturí en una placa de 12 pocillos. Rock the bisturí suavemente sobre el tejido para permitir que se adhiera. </li><li> Cultura los especímenes en 750 l de medios de crecimiento de fibroblastos primario (DMEM suplementado con 20% de suero de ternera fetal (FCS), 100 U / ml de penicilina, 100 mg / ml de estreptomicina y 292 mg / ml de L-Glutamina), que debe submerge del tejido sin que le permite flotar. Evite molestar a la placa en los próximos 5 días, salvo para volver a la alimentación cada 2 días. </li><li> Durante los siguientes 5 días fibroblastos se lentamente comenzar a crecer fuera desde el borde del tejido. En aproximadamente 7 días, este será más visible. Después de aproximadamente 3-4 semanas, y si no son suficientes los fibroblastos que crecen fuera, añadir 750 l de tripsina a cada pocillo. Después las células se han separado (que puede tardar 5-10 min), la piscina y la transferencia a un matraz de cultivo tisular T-25. </li></ol> 2. Preparación Organotípicos Preparación de los fibroblastos impregnada de gel de organotípicos: <ol><li> Preparar una suspensión de células de fibroblastos que contiene 5 x 10 5 células por organotípicos en DMEM suplementado con 10% de FCS y 292 mg / ml de L-Glutamina. </li><li> Se llevan los geles organotípicos en el hielo, en las siguientes proporciones: <ul><li> 7 volúmenes de colágeno de cola de rata: mezcla de Matrigel (01:01) </li><li> 1 volumen de filtrado 10x DMEM </li><li> 1 volumen de FCS </li><li> 1 volumen de suspensión celular de fibroblastos que contiene 5 x 10 5 fibroblastos Para 9 geles (1 ml por gel) preparar 10 ml y mezclar suavemente para evitar burbujas. </li></ul></li><li> Añadir 1 ml a cada pocillo de una placa de 24 pocillos e incubar durante 1 hora a 37 ° C en una atmósfera húmeda para permitir que los geles para ajustar. Después de 1 hora se añade 1 ml de DMEM (10% de FCS) / GLUT en la parte superior de los geles y volver a la incubadora durante la noche. </li><li> Al día siguiente, el medio aspirado desde la parte superior de los geles y la placa 1 ml de medio que contiene 5 x 10 5 células epiteliales CRC. </li></ol> Preparación de láminas de nylon recubierto de gel: <ol start="5"><li> Preparar estéril, hojas de nylon autoclave de 1,5 cm x 1,5 cm, por adelantado. </li><li> El uso de pinzas estériles, colocar el número requerido de hojas de nylon en una placa de cultivo de 10 cm (por lo general 4 hojas de nylon pueden ser acomodados por plato). </li><li> Invente gel en el hielo en el siguiente orden (250 l total deSe requiere volumen por hoja de nylon): <ul><li> 7 volúmenes de colágeno de cola de rata </li><li> 1 volumen de filtrado 10x DMEM </li><li> 1 volumen de FCS </li><li> 1 volumen de DMEM 10% FCS / Superabundancia </li></ul></li><li> Si la solución es de color amarillo, neutralizar añadiendo 0,1 M de NaOH en 50 ml de alícuotas hasta que la solución se vuelve rosa. </li><li> Añadir 250 l de esta solución a cada lámina de nylon y se incuba a 37 ° C en una atmósfera humidificada de 5% de CO 2 durante 30 minutos para permitir gel se cuaje. </li><li> Invente solución de glutaraldehído al 1% en PBS. Añadir 10 ml a cada 10 cm de placa de cultivo una vez que el gel se haya establecido y se incuba a 4 ° C durante 1 hora. </li><li> Sábanas de nylon lava 3X en PBS y 1x en DMEM (10% de FCS) / Glu y Incubar toda la noche en DMEM / Glu en 4 ° C. </li></ol> Elevar geles organotípicos en las parrillas de acero para la invasión: <ol start="12"><li> Pre-preparar rejillas de andamiaje por plegado de chapas de acero inoxidable en una formación de trípode. Esterilizar en autoclave antes de su uso.</li><li> El uso de fórceps esterilizados en etanol para colocar una rejilla de acero en cada pocillo de una placa de seis pocillos. </li><li> Coloque una lámina de nylon recubierto de gel con la parte superior de colágeno, en cada cuadrícula. </li><li> Transferir cuidadosamente los geles organotípicos de la placa de 24 pocillos a la lámina de nylon planteado usando una espátula esterilizada en etanol. </li><li> Llenar el pocillo con DMEM 10% de FCS / GLUT suplementado con 10% de FCS hasta que la lámina de nylon está en contacto con el medio, pero no sumergido. Asegúrese de que el medio no toque el gel organotípico. </li><li> Incubar durante 14 días a 37 ° C en un ambiente humidificado del 5% de CO 2, en sustitución de los medios de comunicación cada 2 días. </li></ol> 3. Organotípicos Fijación <ol><li> Retire toda organotípico incluyendo lámina de nylon del bien y colocar en papel film. </li><li> Biseccionar organotípico y lámina de nylon con un bisturí desechable limpio y fijar las dos mitades en formol durante 24 horas a temperatura ambiente. </li><li> Reemplace formaldehído con 70% ethanol después de 24 horas y dejar toda la noche antes de la inclusión en parafina, seccionando y tinción. </li></ol> 4. Microdisección láser del Margen Invasiva <ol><li> Sección a 10 micras de espesor sobre una membrana de diapositivas montadas. </li><li> Desparafinar secciones mediante la aplicación de xileno durante 1 minuto, luego retire Xileno y fijan en etanol al 75% durante 1 min. </li><li> Eliminar el etanol y tinción con solución de violeta de cresilo 0,125% durante 1 min. Cresil violeta resalta las células epiteliales y permite una fácil discriminación de la estroma. </li><li> Eliminar violeta de cresilo y aplicar etanol al 100% durante 1 min antes de enjuagar con etanol al 100%. Permitir diapositivas secar al aire durante 30 min. </li><li> Realizar microdisección láser utilizando plataforma elegida (por ejemplo, el sistema Leica AS). </li><li> Coloque la placa de vidrio con la sección manchada que se microdissected boca abajo en la platina del microscopio. </li><li> Montar un tubo de microcentrífuga de 0,5 ml en el casete de la colección y añadir 50 l detampón de lisis celular (por ejemplo, ADN, ARN o proteína de tampón de lisis) a la tapa en la que el tejido microdissected recogerá. </li><li> Bajo visión directa, utilice el joystick para identificar el tejido de interés, y el uso de la interfaz de software, realizar anotaciones en la sección orgánica de colores, destacando las células que se microdissected en el frente de invasión tumoral. </li><li> Instruir al láser para disparar, que debe tanto cortar la sección resaltada e impulsar el tejido microdissected en la tapa del tubo de microcentrífuga. </li><li> Una vez que el material suficiente se ha recogido, expulse el cassette colección, cerrar el tubo de microcentrífuga y girar suavemente para sacarla del tampón de lisis a la parte inferior del tubo. </li><li> Coloque las muestras en hielo hasta microdisección se ha completado. Procesar muestras mediante un método adecuado para extraer el analito de interés. </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Nystrom, M. L., Thomas, G. J., Stone, M., Mackenzie, I. C., Hart, I. R., Marshall, J. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+a+quantitative+method+to+analyse+tumour+cell+invasion+in+organotypic+culture.">Development of a quantitative method to analyse tumour cell invasion in organotypic culture.</a> J Pathol. 205 (4), 468-475 (2005).</li><li>Zhang, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=miR-153+supports+colorectal+cancer+progression+via+pleiotropic+effects+that+enhance+invasion+and+chemotherapeutic+resistance.">miR-153 supports colorectal cancer progression via pleiotropic effects that enhance invasion and chemotherapeutic resistance.</a> Cancer Res. , (2013).</li><li>Bullock, M. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pleiotropic+actions+of+miR-21+highlight+the+critical+role+of+deregulated+stromal+microRNAs+during+colorectal+cancer+progression.">Pleiotropic actions of miR-21 highlight the critical role of deregulated stromal microRNAs during colorectal cancer progression.</a> Cell Death Dis. 20 (4), (2013).</li><li>Jenei, V., Nystrom, M. L., Thomas, G. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measuring+invasion+in+an+organotypic+model.">Measuring invasion in an organotypic model.</a> Methods Mol Biol. 769, 223-232 (2011).</li><li>De Wever, O., Demetter, P., Mareel, M., Bracke, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stromal+myofibroblasts+are+drivers+of+invasive+cancer+growth.">Stromal myofibroblasts are drivers of invasive cancer growth.</a> Int J Cancer. 123 (10), 2229-2238 (2008).</li><li>Fries, K. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evidence+of+fibroblast+heterogeneity+and+the+role+of+fibroblast+subpopulations+in+fibrosis.">Evidence of fibroblast heterogeneity and the role of fibroblast subpopulations in fibrosis.</a> Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 72 (3), 283-292 (1994).</li><li>Moutasim, K. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Betel-derived+alkaloid+up-regulates+keratinocyte+alphavbeta6+integrin+expression+and+promotes+oral+submucous+fibrosis.">Betel-derived alkaloid up-regulates keratinocyte alphavbeta6 integrin expression and promotes oral submucous fibrosis.</a> J Pathol. 223 (3), 366-377 (2011).</li><li>Winter, J., Jung, S., Keller, S., Gregory, R. I., Diederichs, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Many+roads+to+maturity:+microRNA+biogenesis+pathways+and+their+regulation.">Many roads to maturity: microRNA biogenesis pathways and their regulation.</a> Nat Cell Biol. 11 (3), 228-234 (2009).</li><li>Li, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+miRNA+expression+patterns+using+total+RNA+extracted+from+matched+samples+of+formalin-fixed+paraffin-embedded+(FFPE)+cells+and+snap+frozen+cells.">Comparison of miRNA expression patterns using total RNA extracted from matched samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cells and snap frozen cells.</a> BMC Biotechnol. 7 (36), (2007).</li><li>Szafranska, A. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Accurate+molecular+characterization+of+formalin-fixed,+paraffin-embedded+tissues+by+microRNA+expression+profiling.">Accurate molecular characterization of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues by microRNA expression profiling.</a> J Mol Diagn. 10 (5), 415-423 (2008).</li></ol>

Los autores describen posibles conflictos de interés.

Aquí se describe un método para aislar y caracterizar las células tumorales que han adquirido la capacidad de invadir el estroma asociado cáncer durante las primeras etapas de la progresión metastásica en un constructo de co-cultivo de 3 dimensiones de células epiteliales y estromales específicamente. Se utilizaron modelos de co-cultivo formadas por células epiteliales CRC yuxtapuestos con un estroma sintética que contiene ex vivo fibroblastos colon humano para estudiar la...

Co-cultivos organotípicos son modelos de ingeniería tisular que ayuda en la reconstrucción del microambiente del tumor in vivo en en 3-dimensiones mediante la yuxtaposición de las células epiteliales malignas y células estromales en un gel de colágeno que contiene componentes de la matriz extracelular esenciales 1-3. Principalmente concebido como un método de medición de la invasión tumoral, organotypics reducir la dependencia en modelos animales in vivo, y evitar las deficiencias de otras técnicas in vitro tales como ensayos Transwell, en el que las células invasoras se ven obligados artificialmente en un estado mono-dispersado 2-4. La inclusión de las células del estroma en estos modelos, tales como fibroblastos, refleja el papel esencial de la microambiente del tumor en la regulación de la invasión maligna y metástasis 3-4, sin embargo, la heterogeneidad fenotípica de la estroma es tal que con el fin de maximizar la relevancia fisiológica de organotípicos modelos, específica de órganos, de precisión anatómica ex vivofibroblastos deberían incluirse siempre que sea posible de 3,6. Organotypics son una plataforma versátil para estudiar las interacciones entre el tumor y las células del estroma y se utilizan cada vez más en nuevas formas de examinar el impacto en la invasión tumoral de los inhibidores químicos y alteraciones genéticas específicas 7,8. Estudiar el margen del tumor invasivo es una perspectiva particularmente emocionante. En los modelos organotípicos, cáncer colorrectal establecido (CRC) las líneas celulares se caracterizan por producir una capa epitelial bien estratificada, y en sección transversal, las células que han adquirido la capacidad de invadir la matriz extracelular (ECM) son fácilmente discernibles. A la luz de la heterogeneidad de micro-topográfico establecido de tumor y el tumor asociado células estromales in vivo, la extracción de estas células usando microdisección láser y el estudio de ellos en el aislamiento, puede revelar importantes conocimientos biológicos con respecto a los orígenes de la metástasis del cáncer colorrectal y cómo puede ser más eficiente apuntado. Yon la siguiente metodología, todos los pacientes que donaron muestras de tejidos por escrito el consentimiento informado y el estudio fue aprobado por los comités de ética instituciones regionales de investigación.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="634">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Colorectal cancer cell lines - example shown SW480</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">ATCC</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ATCC CCL-228</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Collagen</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">354265</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Matrigel</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">354234</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Nylon membrane</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">Merck Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">VVLP01300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Metal grid</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">The Mesh Company</td>
			<td>WSS20-A4</td>
			<td>themeshcompany.com</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Laser microdissection platform</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">Leica Microsystems</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Leica AS LMD</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Membrane mounted slides</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">Molecular devices</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Cresyl Violet</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">Merck Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1052350025</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

molecular profiling of the invasive tumor microenvironment in a 3-dimensional model of colorectal cancer cells and ex vivo fibroblasts

Invadir el cáncer colorrectal células (CRC) han adquirido la capacidad de liberarse de sus células hermanas, infiltrarse en el estroma, y ​​remodelar la matriz extracelular (ECM). La caracterización de la biología de este grupo fenotípicamente distintas de células podría mejorar sustancialmente nuestra comprensión de los eventos tempranos durante la cascada metastásica. La invasión tumoral es un proceso dinámico facilitado por interacciones bidireccionales entre epitelio maligno y el estroma cáncer asociado. Con el fin de examinar las respuestas de células específicas en el estroma interfaz tumor hemos combinado co-cultivo y técnicas de micro-disección láser organotípico. Modelos organotípicos, en el que los componentes del estroma clave tales como los fibroblastos son 3-dimentioanally co-cultivadas con células epiteliales cancerosas, son herramientas experimentales altamente manipulables que permiten la invasión y las interacciones con el cáncer del estroma para ser estudiados en casi phcondiciones ysiological. Microdisección láser (LMD) es una técnica que implica la disección quirúrgica y la extracción de los diversos estratos dentro del tejido del tumor, con precisión nivel de micras. Mediante la combinación de estas técnicas con el perfil genómico, transcriptómica y epigenética nos proponemos desarrollar una comprensión más profunda de las características moleculares de la invasión de las células del tumor y el tejido circundante del estroma, y ​​al hacerlo, potencialmente revelar nuevos biomarcadores y oportunidades para el desarrollo de fármacos en el CCR.

Hemos aplicado el método anterior para múltiples combinaciones de líneas celulares de CRC y células del estroma. Un ejemplo que se presenta aquí es las líneas de células SW480 epitelial CRC con ex vivo fibroblastos primarios de colon humano. Co-cultivos 3-dimensionales se construyen (Figura 1), se sometieron a microscopía de láser y microdisección de captura (Figura 2), y se analizaron por microARN (miARN) de perfiles (Figura 3) para la comparación d...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Molecular Profiling of the Invasive Tumor Microenvironment in a 3-Dimensional Model of Colorectal Cancer Cells and Ex vivo Fibroblasts at JoVE.com

Molecular Profiling of the Invasive Tumor Microenvironment in a 3-Dimensional Model of Colorectal Cancer Cells and Ex vivo Fibroblasts

Las características moleculares de las células láser microdissected y estroma de, modelos de cáncer colorrectal ingeniería de tejidos sintéticos representa un enfoque novedoso y manipulable para caracterizar y diseccionar la biología distintiva en la interfaz entre las células tumorales en el cáncer de células del estroma asociado frente invasivo y.

Molecular Profiling del microambiente tumoral invasiva en un modelo de 3 dimensiones de las células del cáncer colorrectal y<em&gt; Ex vivo</em&gt; Los fibroblastos

Invading colorectal cancer (CRC) cells have acquired the capacity to break free from their sister cells, infiltrate the stroma, and remodel the ...

molecular-profiling-invasive-tumor-microenvironment-3-dimensional

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

Molecular Profiling of the Invasive Tumor Microenvironment in a 3-Dimensional Model of Colorectal Cancer Cells and Ex vivo Fibroblasts

11.0K vistas.  University of Southampton School of Medicine.  Las características moleculares de las células láser microdissected y estroma de, modelos de cáncer colorrectal ingeniería de tejidos sintéticos representa un enfoque novedoso y manipulable para caracterizar y diseccionar la biología distintiva en la interfaz entre las células tumorales en el cáncer de células del estroma asociado frente invasivo y. 

Video: Molecular Profiling of the Invasive Tumor Microenvironment in a 3-Dimensional Model of Colorectal Cancer Cells and Ex vivo Fibroblasts

In vivo Bioluminescence Imaging of Tumor Hypoxia Dynamics of Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis in a Mouse Model

It is well recognized that tumor hypoxia plays an important role in promoting malignant progression and affecting therapeutic response negatively. There is little knowledge about in situ, in vivo, tumor hypoxia during intracranial development of malignant brain tumors because of lack of efficient means to monitor it in these deep-seated orthotopic tumors. Bioluminescence imaging (BLI), based on the detection of light emitted by living cells expressing a luciferase gene, has been rapidly adopted for cancer research, in particular, to evaluate tumor growth or tumor size changes in response to treatment in preclinical animal studies. Moreover, by expressing a reporter gene under the control of a promoter sequence, the specific gene expression can be monitored non-invasively by BLI. Under hypoxic stress, signaling responses are mediated mainly via the hypoxia inducible factor-1&alpha; (HIF-1&alpha;) to drive transcription of various genes. Therefore, we have used a HIF-1&alpha; reporter construct, 5HRE-ODD-luc, stably transfected into human breast cancer MDA-MB231 cells (MDA-MB231/5HRE-ODD-luc). In vitro HIF-1&alpha; bioluminescence assay is performed by incubating the transfected cells in a hypoxic chamber (0.1% O2) for 24 hr before BLI, while the cells in normoxia (21% O2) serve as a control. Significantly higher photon flux observed for the cells under hypoxia suggests an increased HIF-1&alpha; binding to its promoter (HRE elements), as compared to those in normoxia. Cells are injected directly into the mouse brain to establish a breast cancer brain metastasis model. In vivo bioluminescence imaging of tumor hypoxia dynamics is initiated 2 wks after implantation and repeated once a week. BLI reveals increasing light signals from the brain as the tumor progresses, indicating increased intracranial tumor hypoxia. Histological and immunohistochemical studies are used to confirm the in vivo imaging results. Here, we will introduce approaches of in vitro HIF-1&alpha; bioluminescence assay, surgical establishment of a breast cancer brain metastasis in a nude mouse and application of in vivo bioluminescence imaging to monitor intracranial tumor hypoxia.

In vivo Bioluminescence Imaging of Tumor Hypoxia Dynamics of Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis in a Mouse Model

Bioluminescence imaging of hypoxia inducible factor-1&alpha; activity is applied to monitor intracranial tumor hypoxia development in a breast cancer brain metastasis mouse model.

Imágenes in vivo de tumores bioluminiscencia Dinámica hipoxia de la metástasis cerebral cáncer de mama en un modelo de ratón

It is well recognized that tumor hypoxia plays an important role in promoting malignant progression and affecting therapeutic response negatively. There ...

Investigación

Medicina

Modeling and Imaging 3-Dimensional Collective Cell Invasion

A defining characteristic of cancer malignancy is invasion and metastasis 1. In some cancers (e.g. glioma 2), local invasion into surrounding healthy tissue is the root cause of disease and death. For other cancers (e.g. breast, lung, etc.), it is the process of metastasis, in which tumor cells move from a primary tumor mass, colonize distal sites and ultimately contribute to organ failure, that eventually leads to morbidity and mortality 3. It has been estimated that invasion and metastasis are responsible for 90&#37; of cancer deaths 4. As a result, there has been intense interest in identifying the molecular processes and critical protein mediators of invasion and metastasis for the purposes of improving diagnosis and treatment 5.
A challenge for cancer scientists is to develop invasion assays that sufficiently resemble the in vivo situation to enable accurate disease modeling 6. Two-dimensional cell motility assays are only informative about one aspect of invasion and do not take into account extracellular matrix (ECM) protein remodeling which is also a critical element. Recently, research has refined our understanding of tumor cell invasion and revealed that individual cells may move by elongated or rounded modes 7. In addition, there has been greater appreciation of the contribution of collective invasion, in which cells invade in strands, sheets and clusters, particularly in highly differentiated tumors that maintain epithelial characteristics, to the spread of cancer 8.
We present a refined method 9 for examining the contributions of candidate proteins to collective invasion 10. In particular, by engineering separate pools of cells to express different fluorescent proteins, it is possible to molecularly dissect the activities and proteins required in leading cells versus those required in following cells. The use of RNAi provides the molecular tool to experimentally disassemble the processes involved in individual cell invasion as well as in different positions of collective invasion. In this procedure, mixtures of fluorescently-labeled cells are plated on the bottom of a Transwell insert previously filled with Matrigel ECM protein, then allowed to invade "upwards" through the filter and into the Matrigel. Reconstruction of z-series image stacks, obtained by confocal imaging, into three-dimensional representations allows for visualization of collectively invading strands and analysis of the representation of fluorescently-labeled cells in leading versus following positions.

Models of tumor cell invasion into three-dimensional extracellular matrix better reflect the in vivo situation than two-dimensional motility assays. Using matrix invasion assays combined with confocal imaging of fluorescently-labeled cells, detailed information on invasion modes and the distinct contributions of leading versus following cells can be obtained.

Modelado y de imagen de 3 dimensiones invasión celular colectiva

A defining characteristic of cancer malignancy is invasion and metastasis 1. In some cancers (e.g. glioma 2), local invasion into surrounding healthy ...

Screening for Melanoma Modifiers using a Zebrafish Autochthonous Tumor Model

Genomic studies of human cancers have yielded a wealth of information about genes that are altered in tumors1,2,3. A challenge arising from these studies is that many genes are altered, and it can be difficult to distinguish genetic alterations that drove tumorigenesis from that those arose incidentally during transformation. To draw this distinction it is beneficial to have an assay that can quantitatively measure the effect of an altered gene on tumor initiation and other processes that enable tumors to persist and disseminate. Here we present a rapid means to screen large numbers of candidate melanoma modifiers in zebrafish using an autochthonous tumor model4 that encompasses steps required for melanoma initiation and maintenance. A key reagent in this assay is the miniCoopR vector, which couples a wild-type copy of the mitfa melanocyte specification factor to a Gateway recombination cassette into which candidate melanoma genes can be recombined5. The miniCoopR vector has a mitfa rescuing minigene which contains the promoter, open reading frame and 3'-untranslated region of the wild-type mitfa gene. It allows us to make constructs using full-length open reading frames of candidate melanoma modifiers. These individual clones can then be injected into single cell Tg(mitfa:BRAFV600E);p53(lf);mitfa(lf)zebrafish embryos. The miniCoopR vector gets integrated by Tol2-mediated transgenesis6 and rescues melanocytes. Because they are physically coupled to the mitfa rescuing minigene, candidate genes are expressed in rescued melanocytes, some of which will transform and develop into tumors. The effect of a candidate gene on melanoma initiation and melanoma cell properties can be measured using melanoma-free survival curves, invasion assays, antibody staining and transplantation assays.

A rapid way to screen for melanoma modifiers using a zebrafish autochthonous tumor model is presented. It takes advantage of the miniCoopR vector which allows for expression of candidate melanoma genes in melanocytes. A method to obtain melanoma-free survival curves, an invasion assay, a protocol for antibody staining of scale melanocytes and a melanoma transplantation assay are described.

La detección de Modificadores melanoma utilizando un modelo de pez cebra Tumor autóctona

Genomic studies of  human cancers have yielded a wealth of information about genes that are altered  in tumors1,2,3. A challenge arising from these ...

Live Imaging of Drug Responses in the Tumor Microenvironment in Mouse Models of Breast Cancer

The tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and the response to anti-cancer therapies. Three-dimensional co-culture systems are frequently used to explicate tumor-stroma interactions, including their role in drug responses. However, many of the interactions that occur in vivo in the intact microenvironment cannot be completely replicated in these in vitro settings. Thus, direct visualization of these processes in real-time has become an important tool in understanding tumor responses to therapies and identifying the interactions between cancer cells and the stroma that can influence these responses. Here we provide a method for using spinning disk confocal microscopy of live, anesthetized mice to directly observe drug distribution, cancer cell responses and changes in tumor-stroma interactions following administration of systemic therapy in breast cancer models. We describe procedures for labeling different tumor components, treatment of animals for observing therapeutic responses, and the surgical procedure for exposing tumor tissues for imaging up to 40 hours. The results obtained from this protocol are time-lapse movies, in which such processes as drug infiltration, cancer cell death and stromal cell migration can be evaluated using image analysis software.

We describe a method for imaging response to anti-cancer treatment in vivo and at single cell resolution.

Imágenes en directo de las respuestas de drogas en el microambiente tumoral en modelos de ratón de cáncer de mama

The tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and the response to anti-cancer therapies. Three-dimensional ...

Initiation of Metastatic Breast Carcinoma by Targeting of the Ductal Epithelium with Adenovirus-Cre: A Novel Transgenic Mouse Model of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease involving complex cellular interactions between the developing tumor and immune system, eventually resulting in exponential tumor growth and metastasis to distal tissues and the collapse of anti-tumor immunity. Many useful animal models exist to study breast cancer, but none completely recapitulate the disease progression that occurs in humans. In order to gain a better understanding of the cellular interactions that result in the formation of latent metastasis and decreased survival, we have generated an inducible transgenic mouse model of YFP-expressing ductal carcinoma that develops after sexual maturity in immune-competent mice and is driven by consistent, endocrine-independent oncogene expression. Activation of YFP, ablation of p53, and expression of an oncogenic form of K-ras was achieved by the delivery of an adenovirus expressing Cre-recombinase into the mammary duct of sexually mature, virgin female mice. Tumors begin to appear 6 weeks after the initiation of oncogenic events. After tumors become apparent, they progress slowly for approximately two weeks before they begin to grow exponentially. After 7-8 weeks post-adenovirus injection, vasculature is observed connecting the tumor mass to distal lymph nodes, with eventual lymphovascular invasion of YFP+ tumor cells to the distal axillary lymph nodes. Infiltrating leukocyte populations are similar to those found in human breast carcinomas, including the presence of &#945;&#946; and &#947;&#948; T cells, macrophages and MDSCs. This unique model will facilitate the study of cellular and immunological mechanisms involved in latent metastasis and dormancy in addition to being useful for designing novel immunotherapeutic interventions to treat invasive breast cancer.

Activation of latent mutations with adenovirus-Cre into the mammary ductal system results in a clinically relevant metastatic breast cancer. Incorporation of a YFP promoter allows tracking of distal metastatic tumor cells. This model is useful to study latent metastasis, anti-tumor immunity, and for designing novel immunotherapies to treat breast cancer.

Inicio de la metástasis de carcinoma de mama mediante la Focalización del epitelio ductal con adenovirus Cre: Un modelo de ratón transgénico de Novela del Cáncer de Mama

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease involving complex cellular interactions between the developing tumor and immune system, eventually resulting in ...

An Ex vivo Model to Study Hormone Action in the Human Breast

The study of hormone action in the human breast has been hampered by lack of adequate model systems. Upon in vitro culture, primary mammary epithelial cells tend to lose hormone receptor expression. Widely used hormone receptor positive breast cancer cell lines are of limited relevance to the in vivo situation. Here, we describe an ex vivo model to study hormone action in the human breast. Fresh human breast tissue specimens from surgical discard material such as reduction mammoplasties or mammectomies are mechanically and enzymatically digested to obtain tissue fragments containing ducts and lobules and multiple stromal cell types. These tissue microstructures kept in basal medium without growth factors preserve their intercellular contacts, the tissue architecture, and remain hormone responsive for several days. They are readily processed for RNA and protein extraction, histological analysis or stored in freezing medium. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) can be used to enrich for specific cell populations. This protocol provides a straightforward, standard approach for translational studies with highly complex, varied human specimens.

An Ex vivo Model to Study Hormone Action in the Human Breast

We have developed a novel ex vivo model to study hormone action in the human breast. It is based on tissue microstructures isolated from surgical breast tissue specimens which preserve tissue architecture, intercellular interactions, and paracrine signaling.

Una<em&gt; Ex vivo</em&gt; Modelo para estudiar la acción hormonal en el pecho humano

The study of hormone action in the human breast has been hampered by lack of adequate model systems. Upon in vitro culture, primary mammary epithelial ...

Three-Dimensional (3D) Tumor Spheroid Invasion Assay

Invasion of surrounding normal tissues is generally considered to be a key hallmark of malignant (as opposed to benign) tumors. For some cancers in particular (e.g., brain tumors such as glioblastoma multiforme and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck &#8211; SCCHN) it is a cause of severe morbidity and can be life-threatening even in the absence of distant metastases. In addition, cancers which have relapsed following treatment unfortunately often present with a more aggressive phenotype. Therefore, there is an opportunity to target the process of invasion to provide novel therapies that could be complementary to standard anti-proliferative agents. Until now, this strategy has been hampered by the lack of robust, reproducible assays suitable for a detailed analysis of invasion and for drug screening. Here we provide a simple micro-plate method (based on uniform, self-assembling 3D tumor spheroids) which has great potential for such studies. We exemplify the assay platform using a human glioblastoma cell line and also an SCCHN model where the development of resistance against targeted epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors is associated with enhanced matrix-invasive potential. We also provide two alternative methods of semi-automated quantification: one using an imaging cytometer and a second which simply requires standard microscopy and image capture with digital image analysis.

Three-Dimensional 3D Tumor Spheroid Invasion Assay

Invasion of surrounding normal tissues is a defining characteristic of malignant tumors. We provide here a simple, semi-automated micro-plate assay of invasion into a natural 3D biomatrix that has been exemplified with a number of models of advanced human cancers.

Tumor Ensayo tridimensional (3D) esferoide Invasion

Invasion of surrounding normal tissues is generally considered to be a key hallmark of malignant (as opposed to benign) tumors. For some cancers in ...

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) contains a subset of exclusively tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) which have been shown to drive tumor initiation, metastasis and resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. Here we describe a specific methodology for culturing primary human pancreatic CSCs as tumor spheres in anchorage-independent conditions. Cells are grown in serum-free, non-adherent conditions in order to enrich for CSCs while their more differentiated progenies do not survive and proliferate during the initial phase following seeding of single cells. This assay can be used to estimate the percentage of CSCs present in a population of tumor cells. Both size (which can range from 35 to 250 micrometers) and number of tumor spheres formed represents CSC activity harbored in either bulk populations of cultured cancer cells or freshly harvested and digested tumors 1,2. Using this assay, we recently found that metformin selectively ablates pancreatic CSCs; a finding that was subsequently further corroborated by demonstrating diminished expression of pluripotency-associated genes/surface markers and reduced in vivo tumorigenicity of metformin-treated cells. As the final step for preclinical development we treated mice bearing established tumors with metformin and found significantly prolonged survival. Clinical studies testing the use of metformin in patients with PDAC are currently underway (e.g., NCT01210911, NCT01167738, and NCT01488552). Mechanistically, we found that metformin induces a fatal energy crisis in CSCs by enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and reducing mitochondrial transmembrane potential. In contrast, non-CSCs were not eliminated by metformin treatment, but rather underwent reversible cell cycle arrest. Therefore, our study serves as a successful example for the potential of in vitro sphere formation as a screening tool to identify compounds that potentially target CSCs, but this technique will require further in vitro and in vivo validation to eliminate false discoveries.

Pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) can be expanded in vitro using the anchorage-independent sphere culture technique, which represents a powerful tool to study CSC biology and can serve as the first step to develop novel CSC-targeting therapies. Here the methodology for expanding, analyzing and targeting of pancreatic CSCs is provided.

El estudio de cáncer de páncreas Tallo Características de las células para el desarrollo de nuevas estrategias de tratamiento

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) contains a subset of exclusively tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) which have been shown to drive tumor ...

Isolation and Propagation of Circulating Tumor Cells from a Mouse Cancer Model

Cancer metastasis is the foremost cause of cancer-associated deaths. Recent studies have shown that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are important in cancer metastasis. Indeed, the number of CTCs correlates with tumor size. Here, a detailed description is provided of a methodology for isolation and propagation of CTCs from a syngeneic mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which allows for downstream analysis of potentially important molecular mechanisms of solid organ tumor metastasis. This method is efficient and reproducible. It is a non-invasive technique and, therefore, has potential to replace the invasive biopsy of tissues from humans which may be associated with complications. Therefore, the method discussed here allows for the isolation and propagation of CTCs from whole blood samples such that they can be examined and characterized. This has potential for future adaptation for clinical applications such as diagnosis, and personalized targeted therapy.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been shown to play an important role in tumor metastasis. Here, a method for the isolation and propagation of CTCs from the whole blood of a syngeneic mouse tumor model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis is described.

El aislamiento y la propagación de células tumorales circulantes de un Cáncer de ratón

Cancer metastasis is the foremost cause of cancer-associated deaths. Recent studies have shown that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are important in cancer ...

A Brain Tumor/Organotypic Slice Co-culture System for Studying Tumor Microenvironment and Targeted Drug Therapies

Brain tumors are a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Developing new therapeutics for these cancers is difficult, as many of these tumors are not easily grown in standard culture conditions. Neurosphere cultures under serum-free conditions and orthotopic xenografts have expanded the range of tumors that can be maintained. However, many types of brain tumors remain difficult to propagate or study. This is particularly true for pediatric brain tumors such as pilocytic astrocytomas and medulloblastomas. This protocol describes a system that allows primary human brain tumors to be grown in culture. This quantitative assay can be used to investigate the effect of microenvironment on tumor growth, and to test new drug therapies. This protocol describes a system where fluorescently labeled brain tumor cells are grown on an organotypic brain slice from a juvenile mouse. The response of tumor cells to drug treatments can be studied in this assay, by analyzing changes in the number of cells on the slice over time. In addition, this system can address the nature of the microenvironment that normally fosters growth of brain tumors. This brain tumor organotypic slice co-culture assay provides a propitious system for testing new drugs on human tumor cells within a brain microenvironment.

Many types of human brain tumors are localized to specific regions within the brain and are difficult to grow in culture. This protocol addresses the role of tumor microenvironment and investigates new drug treatments by analyzing fluorescent primary brain tumor cells growing in an organotypic mouse brain slice. &#160;

Un tumor cerebral / organotípicos rebanada Co-cultura del sistema para estudiar microambiente tumoral y dirigida Medicamentos Terapias

Brain tumors are a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Developing new therapeutics for these cancers is difficult, as many of these ...