The authors acknowledge funding sources from D&#8217;Youville College School of Pharmacy, Buffalo, NY.

1. Prepare os diferentes meios de comunicação e componentes adicionais <ol><li> Antes de testar, preparar meio consistindo de DMEM ou outros meios especificados com a adição de ambos os normais de FBS, carvão despojado de FBS, ou carvão despojado de FBS mais o componente a ser testado. Note-se que vários componentes podem ser testados em cada experiência. </li><li> Pesar e diluir as hormonas, factores de crescimento ou citocinas de forma adequada para ser dissolvidos no soro carvão despojado na concentração fisiológica. </li></ol> 2. Prepare a matriz de colágeno on Ice <ol><li> Prepare a 2 ml de colagénio I matriz de 2,2 mg / ml, adicionando as seguintes componentes filtradas estéreis em gelo: 200 ul 10x PBS (pH 7,4), 5,4 mL de NaOH 1 N, 600 uL de dupla H2O destilada e 1,2 ml de colagénio I (a 3,63 mg / ml). </li><li> Mantenha solução de colágeno I em gelo até que esteja pronto para a chapa. </li></ol> 3. Prepare Plates Migração / Invasão para Ensaio &lt;/ P&gt; <ol><li> Para cada linha celular a ser testada, utilizar uma placa da câmara de 24 poços na qual 12-poços contêm inserções. Use os mais 12 poços que não contêm inserções para adicionar a mídia quimioatractivas e transferindo as inserções para o arranjo experimental. NOTA: A matriz de colagénio em placas com uma membrana de polietileno teraftalato (PET) e de 8 um de tamanho de poro é óptima para as linhas de células de usar aqui. No entanto, uma matriz de matrigel, em placas pré-revestidas também podem ser substituídos com a diminuição do tamanho dos poros de acordo com a linha celular a ser investigado. </li><li> Identificam a placa, usando três poços por condição a ser analisados ​​(FBS migração, migração CS-FBS, invasão FBS, e invasão CS-FBS, bem como FBS-migração para um controle, linha de células não-invasiva). Ensaio de migração por circulação através de uma membrana de poros em PET, e invasão por ensaio de movimento através de uma matriz de colagénio ou de matrigel e, em seguida, através de poros na membrana. Use diferentes marcadores de cor para cada condição para uma célulaid no processo de revestimento. </li></ol> 4. Dispense a Matrix Invasion <ol><li> Cuidadosamente pipeta 75 ul da solução de matriz de colagénio nas inserções para ser utilizado para ensaios de invasão. Tenha cuidado para evitar bolhas. Dispersar as bolhas, aplicando uma ponta de pipeta invertido para a superfície. </li><li> Transferir a placa com as inserções revestidas com colagénio a uma temperatura de 37 ° C e 5% de CO2 durante 30 min para permitir que o gel solidifique. </li></ol> 5. Placa as células sobre a membrana ou Invasion Matrix <ol><li> Enquanto isso, Tripsinizar as células e adicionar meios com 10% de FBS. Células giram a 200 xg por 5 min em uma centrífuga de bancada e lavar 3x em meio livre de soro. </li><li> Ressuspender em meio livre de soro. Contagem de células com um hemocitômetro ou contador de fotos automática. Adicionar meio isento de soro para uma concentração final de 5 x 10 4 células / ml. </li><li> Quando a matriz de colágeno tem solidificado (após 30 min), adicione 700 mL de mídia com qualquer2% de FBS ou definidos carvão despojado-FBS a cada poço. Dos 12 pastilhas por placa: <ul><li> 3 inserções têm colágeno e poços com media + 2% FBS </li><li> 3 inserções têm colágeno e poços com media + 2% CS-FBS </li><li> 3 inserções não têm colágeno e poços com media + 2% FBS </li><li> 3 inserções não têm colágeno e poços com media + 2% CS-FBS </li></ul><ol><li> Utilizar placas adicionais, dependendo do número de factores a ser testado e com um controlo de colagénio sem correspondente a cada condição. </li></ol></li><li> Adicionar suspensão de células para as inserções em 5 x 10 4 células / ml, chapeamento de 500 células mL por inserir em todas as inserções de migração e invasão. </li><li> Incubar as células durante 22 h a 37 ° C. </li></ol> 6. quantificar o número de Migração e invadir as células <ol><li> Configure coloração de poços utilizando fixador metanol, eosina, e hemotoxilina, em poços separados. </li><li> Use cotonetes de algodão para remover as células e matriz de cada cavidade.Rrepeat com segunda aplicação swab para cada poço. </li><li> Com uma pinça, mergulhar cada inserção 5 vezes durante 1 segundo para cada uma das três soluções em sucessão. </li><li> Permitir inserções para secar S / N. </li><li> Ou i) remover filtros com um bisturi, cortando com cuidado em torno das bordas e montar em um slide com lamela e imersão em óleo, ou ii) permitir que as inserções para secar O / N invertido e usar as inserções diretamente para microscopia. </li><li> No dia seguinte, ver slides ou inserções sob um microscópio com objetiva de 20x e levar 5 imagens de diferentes regiões do filtro. Para melhorar a consistência, tome 4 campos externos e um centro. </li><li> Contar as células de todas as condições utilizando o software ImageJ e aplicam-se às fórmulas abaixo. </li><li> Determinar a invasão por cento da seguinte forma: A média de # de células invasoras através de colágeno I inserir = a A média de # de células que migram através de inserção de controle = b Invasão% = (a / b) * 100 </li><li> Determinar o Índice de Invasão em 2% de FBS como se segue: % Invasão de células a ser ensaiado (em 2% de FBS) c = % Invasão de controle de células não-invasivos em (2% FBS) = d Índice de invasão (FBS) = (c / d) </li><li> Determinar o Índice de Invasão em 2% de CS-FBS como se segue: % Invasão de células a ser ensaiado (em 2% de CS-FBS) = e % Invasão de controle de células não-invasivos em (2% CS-FBS) = f Índice de invasão (CS-FBS) = (E / F) </li></ol> 7. Repita protocolo experimental comparando Charcoal-despojado FBS para FBS Charcoal-despojado + X n com múltiplos fatores combinados <ol><li> Repetir o procedimento várias vezes como necessário, utilizando componentes diferentes para &quot;X&quot; ou uma combinação de componentes. </li><li> Aplicar os cálculos para determinar a contribuição de cada fator &quot;X&quot; para os efeitos da migração e invasão. </li></ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Metástase tumoral é um processo de múltiplos passos. As células devem romper a membrana basal, em intravasate ou do sistema linfático ou microvasos sanguíneos, na qual são transportadas para locais distantes. As células tumorais e, em seguida, de extravasamento em colonizar um macrometástase 12. Progressão através do epitélio para o mesenquimal (EMT), invasão tumoral e metástase tenha sido reforçada por hormônios esteróides 13,14, fatores de crescimento de 15-18, 19-21 e...

Um ensaio de invasão novo foi desenvolvido com o objectivo de identificar o envolvimento de hormonas específicas, citoquinas e / ou factores de crescimento como quimioatractores na invasão de células de cancro. A capacidade de células tumorais para invadir através da matriz extracelular (ECM) é uma característica marcante do fenótipo metastático 1-3. Invasão câmaras têm sido amplamente utilizados como ferramentas in vitro para estudar a invasão de células do cancro e da migração e pode proporcionar conhecimento sobre os mecanismos de invasão de tumores in vivo e metástase. As câmaras consistem em pastilhas cilíndricas de cultura de células aninhados dentro dos poços de placas de cultura de células. As partes inferiores das inserções são semi-permeáveis ​​de poliestireno ou de policarbonato de tamanho de poro das membranas definidos. No ensaio de invasão padrão, as células são semeadas sobre a membrana de inserção com meio isento de soro e colocadas em poços de cultura de células que são preenchidos com quimioatractores soro ou soro semelhante a set-se uma força quimioatratante. Isto dirige as células de força para mover através da membrana semi-permeável (migração) ou, em alternativa, através de um revestimento de matriz extracelular (invasão), que pode, então, ser marcadas utilizando corantes convencionais para detectar e quantificar o número de células. O número de células é então normalizados de acordo com a extensão da migração e invasão em uma linha de células não-invasiva. Este método permite que um investigador para avaliar o potencial invasivo de diferentes tipos de células sob uma variedade de condições, incluindo as manipulações genéticas. Hormonas, citocinas e factores de crescimento são componentes críticos de soro e estão cada vez mais a ser mostrado para ser associado com a condução do fenótipo invasivo 4. No entanto, a natureza, função e especificidade destas moléculas de soro quimioatratantes na mediação invasão ainda permanecem ainda desconhecidos. O desafio continua a determinar os fatores específicos em chemoattractants soro ou soro-like são responsáveis ​​pela conduçãoinvasão de células de cancro, bem como as moléculas que podem inibir o processo de invasão. Neste relatório, nós descrevemos uma metodologia para avaliar o potencial envolvimento de hormônios, citocinas e / ou fatores de crescimento presentes no soro, como moléculas de condução quimioatração e invasão das células cancerosas. Neste protocolo modificado proposto, carvão remoção é utilizado para remover hormonas, citocinas e factores de crescimento a partir de 2% de soro fetal bovino (FBS) para gerar 2% de carvão despojado de FBS (CS-FBS). Ambos 2% de FBS e 2% de CS-FBS são utilizados como agentes para ajustar-se a força quimioatratante para conduzir a invasão de células do cancro. Utilizando a 2% de CS-FBS como um agente quimioatratante em comparação com o normal 2% de FBS proporciona vários benefícios, incluindo em primeiro lugar, e mais importante ainda, a possibilidade de estudar o fenótipo de invasão do cancro no reduzido / relativa ausência de hormonas, citoquinas e factores de crescimento. Ele também permite que o investigador para avaliar se a remoção coletiva de hormônios, fatores de crescimento, e cytokines provoca um aumento ou uma diminuição no índice invasivo. O ensaio é concebido para, em seguida, determinar se a adição de um componente individual, designada como &quot;X&quot; pode inibir, aumento, diminuição, ou restaurar o índice invasivo para o seu valor original (ver Figuras 2 e 3). Embora esta metodologia é específico para alcançar os níveis fisiológicos de o componente que é removido a partir do soro durante a remoção do carvão vegetal, deve também notar-se que o carvão de decapagem pode também afectar vias de transdução de sinal. Por exemplo, foi relatado que o carvão de decapagem pode diminuir a actividade da fosfatase alcalina de células osteoprogenitoras e induzem adipogénese por meio de redução de activadores MAPK 5. Meios de carvão despojado estão disponíveis comercialmente e são baseados no protocolo delineado que combina com carvão dextrano e incubadas com soro fetal bovino O / N 6. Este ensaio foi desenvolvido em respoNSE a um resultado relatado por Zucker et al. 7 Os autores demonstraram que um fenótipo mutante afetando a comunicação junção gap demonstrou um aumento no índice de invasão ao migrar em direção a mídia com o normal FBS 2%. Este aumento foi eliminado, com a substituição do soro separado com carvão activado. A partir deste resultado, os autores concluíram que essa migração afetados mutante em direção a uma molécula lipofílica (mais especificamente, um hormônio, fator de crescimento, ou citocina) 7. É bem conhecido que as hormonas, factores de crescimento e citoquinas medeiam a sinalização de vias envolvidas na promoção de tumores e invasão 4. Assim, é importante para os investigadores científicos para determinar o factor de (s) a conduzir à invasão tumoral das suas células cancerosas particulares ou mutantes sob estudo. O ensaio é concebido para tratar o papel de componentes individuais na sua concentração fisiológica conforme determinado de acordo com a diferença entre a concentração do componente &amp;# 8220; X &quot;em SBF normal e o CS-FBS. Através do desenvolvimento deste ensaio, os investigadores podem ter mais conhecimento da via invasiva específica que regule seu sistema. As hormonas, factores de crescimento e citocinas têm sido muitas vezes classificadas como promotores de tumor 8. Alguns destes factores tais como EGF são usados ​​como fontes directas para quimioatractores em câmaras de invasão 9. Assim, parece provável que estes representam os principais componentes do soro que a invasão tumoral direta. Este protocolo propõe um método simples, mas significativa, a modificação do ensaio de invasão in vitro convencional, que permite que um investigador para avaliar o envolvimento das hormonas, factores de crescimento, citocinas e na mediação do potencial invasivo das células cancerosas. No entanto, o ensaio é concebido para proporcionar o investigador com uma resposta quanto ao facto de o processo será eficaz para o seu estudo em um passo inicial na análise, de modo a não usar o tempo precioso e recursos se for considerado desnecessário. Este método usa CS-FBS e baseia-se na discrição investigadores como para que as moléculas de prosseguir como chumbo candidatos que potencialmente medeiam invasão da célula cancerosa. Os resultados destas análises devem provar ser úteis na identificação de componentes do soro que servem como quimioatractores ou inibidores para a linha de células particular ou mutante a ser estudada. Além disso, esta abordagem pode ajudar a identificar o investigador principais vias de sinalização ou promover ou inibir a invasão de células de cancro; assim direcionando projeto futuro de drogas.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="987">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:367px;">Item</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Vendor</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Catalog #</td>
			<td style="width:289px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td>BioCoat Control Inserts with 8.0&#181;m PET Membrane 
			(12 in each of two 24-Well Plates)</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>354578</td>
			<td>polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) membranes&#160;&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Collagen I, rat tail</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>354236</td>
			<td>Source = rat tail tendon, purity = 90%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Fixative; Diff-Quick</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>NC9844047</td>
			<td>Methanol-based fixative, Hmatoxylin/Eosin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Fetal bovine Serum</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>16000</td>
			<td>Designated as FBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Charcoal Stripped Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>12676</td>
			<td>Designated as CS-FBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Fetal bovine Serum</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific Hyclone</td>
			<td>SH30070</td>
			<td>Designated as FBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Charcoal Stripped Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific Hyclone</td>
			<td>SH30068</td>
			<td>Designated as CS-FBS</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a modified in vitro invasion assay to determine the potential role of hormones, cytokines and/or growth factors in mediating cancer cell invasion

O soro sangüíneo serve como um chemoattractant para o qual as células cancerosas migrar e invadir, facilitando a sua intravasation em microvasos. No entanto, as moléculas de reais para o qual as células migram permanecem ainda desconhecidos. Este ensaio de invasão modificado tem sido desenvolvido para identificar alvos que conduzem a migração celular e invasão. Esta técnica compara o índice de invasão sob três condições para determinar se uma hormona específica, o factor de crescimento ou citoquina desempenha um papel na mediação do potencial invasivo de uma célula de cancro. Estas condições incluem i) soro de bovino fetal normal (FBS), ii) separado com carvão activado FBS (CS-FBS), que remove as hormonas, factores de crescimento e citoquinas e iii) CS-FBS + molécula (designada por &quot;X&quot;). Uma alteração significativa na invasão de células com CS-FBS em comparação com FBS, indica o envolvimento de hormonas, citoquinas ou factores de crescimento na mediação da mudança. Moléculas individuais podem então ser adicionado de volta ao CS-FBS para testar a sua capacidade de reverso ou resgatar o fenótipo invasão. Além disso, dois ou mais factores podem ser combinados para avaliar o efeito aditivo ou sinérgico de múltiplas moléculas de condução ou inibir a invasão. Em geral, este método permite ao investigador para determinar se hormonas, citoquinas, e / ou os factores de crescimento desempenham um papel na invasão de células por servir como quimioatractores ou inibidores de invasão para um tipo particular de célula de cancro ou um mutante específico. Através da identificação de agentes quimioatractivos e inibidores específicos, este ensaio de invasão modificado pode ajudar a elucidar as vias de sinalização que dirigem a invasão de células de cancro.

O índice de invasão é calculada para cada condição de acordo com a normalização de uma linha de células não-invasiva. Para as nossas experiências, que use a linha celular de melanoma 1205Lu e variantes estabelecido linhas celulares estáveis ​​como nossas linhas invasivos, bem como a variante não invasiva pré-malignas, WM793 a partir do qual as células foram derivadas 1205Lu 10, que serve como um controlo lógico. Nós também utilizar colagénio I, tal como a matriz de invasão porque é que...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Modified In vitro Invasion Assay to Determine the Potential Role of Hormones, Cytokines and/or Growth Factors in Mediating Cancer Cell Invasion at JoVE.com

A Modified In vitro Invasion Assay to Determine the Potential Role of Hormones, Cytokines and/or Growth Factors in Mediating Cancer Cell Invasion

This video article describes a modified in vitro method to examine the role of hormones, cytokines and/or growth factors in driving cancer cell invasion.

A modificação<em&gt; In vitro</em&gt; Invasion Ensaio para determinar o possível papel dos hormônios, citocinas e / ou fatores de crescimento na Cancer Mediating Invasion celular

Blood serum serves as a chemoattractant towards which cancer cells migrate and invade, facilitating their intravasation into microvessels. However, the ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

A Modified In vitro Invasion Assay to Determine the Potential Role of Hormones, Cytokines and/or Growth Factors in Mediating Cancer Cell Invasion

10.6K visualizações.  Roswell Park Cancer Institute. This video article describes a modified in vitro method to examine the role of hormones, cytokines and/or growth factors in driving cancer cell invasion.

Vídeo: A Modified In vitro Invasion Assay to Determine the Potential Role of Hormones, Cytokines and/or Growth Factors in Mediating Cancer Cell Invasion

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-&#946;-induced Invasion

TGF-&beta; has opposing roles in breast cancer progression by acting as a tumor suppressor in the initial phase, but stimulating invasion and metastasis at later stage1,2. Moreover, TGF-&beta; is frequently overexpressed in breast cancer and its expression correlates with poor prognosis and metastasis 3,4. The mechanisms by which TGF-&beta; induces invasion are not well understood.
TGF-&beta; elicits its cellular responses via TGF-&beta; type II (T&beta;RII) and type I (T&beta;RI) receptors. Upon TGF-&beta;-induced heteromeric complex formation, T&beta;RII phosphorylates the T&beta;RI. The activated T&beta;RI initiates its intracellular canonical signaling pathway by phosphorylating receptor Smads (R-Smads), i.e. Smad2 and Smad3. These activated R-Smads form heteromeric complexes with Smad4, which accumulate in the nucleus and regulate the transcription of target genes5. In addition to the previously described Smad pathway, receptor activation results in activation of several other non-Smad signaling pathways, for example Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways6.
To study the role of TGF-&beta; in different stages of breast cancer, we made use of the MCF10A cell system. This system consists of spontaneously immortalized MCF10A1 (M1) breast epithelial cells7, the H-RAS transformed M1-derivative MCF10AneoT (M2), which produces premalignant lesions in mice8, and the M2-derivative MCF10CA1a (M4), which was established from M2 xenografts and forms high grade carcinomas with the ability to metastasize to the lung9. This MCF10A series offers the possibility to study the responses of cells with different grades of malignancy that are not biased by a different genetic background.
For the analysis of TGF-&beta;-induced invasion, we generated homotypic MCF10A spheroid cell cultures embedded in a 3D collagen matrix in vitro (Fig 1). Such models closely resemble human tumors in vivo by establishing a gradient of oxygen and nutrients, resulting in active and invasive cells on the outside and quiescent or even necrotic cells in the inside of the spheroid10. Spheroid based assays have also been shown to better recapitulate drug resistance than monolayer cultures11. This MCF10 3D model system allowed us to investigate the impact of TGF-&beta; signaling on the invasive properties of breast cells in different stages of malignancy.

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-&amp;#946;-induced Invasion

An assay to quantitatively measure Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-&#x03B2;-induced invasion in 3-dimensional collagen gels is described. This assay takes advantage of the MCF10A series of cell lines, which represent different stages of breast cancer development. This method can be adopted to be used with other cell lines and might be used to investigate other potential activators or inhibitors of invasion.

Ensaio esferóide para TGF-β Medida induzida Invasion

TGF-&beta; has opposing roles in breast cancer progression by acting as a tumor suppressor in the initial phase, but stimulating invasion and metastasis ...

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.

Modelagem e imagem 3-Dimensional Invasion cela coletiva

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

In vitro Mesothelial Clearance Assay that Models the Early Steps of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States1. Despite a positive initial response to therapies, 70 to 90 percent of women with ovarian cancer develop new metastases, and the recurrence is often fatal2. It is, therefore, necessary to understand how secondary metastases arise in order to develop better treatments for intermediate and late stage ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer metastasis occurs when malignant cells detach from the primary tumor site and disseminate throughout the peritoneal cavity. The disseminated cells can form multicellular clusters, or spheroids, that will either remain unattached, or implant onto organs within the peritoneal cavity3 (Figure 1, Movie 1). 
All of the organs within the peritoneal cavity are lined with a single, continuous, layer of mesothelial cells4-6 (Figure 2). However, mesothelial cells are absent from underneath peritoneal tumor masses, as revealed by electron micrograph studies of excised human tumor tissue sections3,5-7 (Figure 2). This suggests that mesothelial cells are excluded from underneath the tumor mass by an unknown process. 
Previous in vitro experiments demonstrated that primary ovarian cancer cells attach more efficiently to extracellular matrix than to mesothelial cells8, and more recent studies showed that primary peritoneal mesothelial cells actually provide a barrier to ovarian cancer cell adhesion and invasion (as compared to adhesion and invasion on substrates that were not covered with mesothelial cells)9,10. This would suggest that mesothelial cells act as a barrier against ovarian cancer metastasis. The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which ovarian cancer cells breach this barrier, and exclude the mesothelium have, until recently, remained unknown. 
Here we describe the methodology for an in vitro assay that models the interaction between ovarian cancer cell spheroids and mesothelial cells in vivo (Figure 3, Movie 2). Our protocol was adapted from previously described methods for analyzing ovarian tumor cell interactions with mesothelial monolayers8-16, and was first described in a report showing that ovarian tumor cells utilize an integrin &#x2013;dependent activation of myosin and traction force to promote the exclusion of the mesothelial cells from under a tumor spheroid17. This model takes advantage of time-lapse fluorescence microscopy to monitor the two cell populations in real time, providing spatial and temporal information on the interaction. The ovarian cancer cells express red fluorescent protein (RFP) while the mesothelial cells express green fluorescent protein (GFP). RFP-expressing ovarian cancer cell spheroids attach to the GFP-expressing mesothelial monolayer. The spheroids spread, invade, and force the mesothelial cells aside creating a hole in the monolayer. This hole is visualized as the negative space (black) in the GFP image. The area of the hole can then be measured to quantitatively analyze differences in clearance activity between control and experimental populations of ovarian cancer and/ or mesothelial cells. This assay requires only a small number of ovarian cancer cells (100 cells per spheroid X 20-30 spheroids per condition), so it is feasible to perform this assay using precious primary tumor cell samples. Furthermore, this assay can be easily adapted for high throughput screening.

In vitro Mesothelial Clearance Assay that Models the Early Steps of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

The mesothelial clearance assay described here takes advantage of fluorescently labeled cells and time-lapse video microscopy to visualize and quantitatively measure the interactions of ovarian cancer multicellular spheroids and mesothelial cell monolayers. This assay models the early steps of ovarian cancer metastasis.

Ensaio in vitro de Apuramento mesotelial que os modelos dos primeiros passos da metástase do câncer de ovário

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States1. Despite a positive initial response to therapies, 70 to 90 ...

Assessment of Ovarian Cancer Spheroid Attachment and Invasion of Mesothelial Cells in Real Time

Ovarian cancers metastasize by shedding into the peritoneal fluid and dispersing to distal sites within the peritoneum. Monolayer cultures do not accurately model the behaviors of cancer cells within a nonadherent environment, as cancer cells inherently aggregate into multicellular structures which contribute to the metastatic process by attaching to and invading the peritoneal lining to form secondary tumors. To model this important stage of ovarian cancer metastasis, multicellular aggregates, or spheroids, can be generated from established ovarian cancer cell lines maintained under nonadherent conditions. To mimic the peritoneal microenvironment encountered by tumor cells in vivo, a spheroid-mesothelial co-culture model was established in which preformed spheroids are plated on top of a human mesothelial cell monolayer, formed over an extracellular matrix barrier. Methods were then developed using a real-time cell analyzer to conduct quantitative real time measurements of the invasive capacity of different ovarian cancer cell lines grown as spheroids. This approach allows for the continuous measurement of invasion over long periods of time, which has several advantages over traditional endpoint assays and more laborious real time microscopy image analyses. In short, this method enables a rapid, determination of factors which regulate the interactions between ovarian cancer spheroid cells invading through mesothelial and matrix barriers over time.

Ovarian cancer cell invasion into the mesothelial lining of the peritoneum is a dynamic process over time. Utilizing a real time analyzer, the invasive capacity of ovarian cancer cells in a spheroid-mesothelial cell co-culture model can be quantified over prolonged time periods, providing insights into factors regulating the metastatic process.

Avaliação do cancro do ovário esferóide Apego e invasão de células mesoteliais em Tempo real

Ovarian cancers metastasize by shedding into the peritoneal fluid and dispersing to distal sites within the peritoneum. Monolayer cultures do not ...

Focus Formation: A Cell-based Assay to Determine the Oncogenic Potential of a Gene

Malignant transformation of cells is typically associated with increased proliferation, loss of contact inhibition, acquisition of anchorage-independent growth potential, and the ability to form tumors in experimental animals1. In NIH 3T3 cells, the Ras signal transduction pathway is known to trigger many of these events, what is known as Ras transformation. The introduction of an overexpressed gene in NIH 3T3 cells may promote morphological transformation and loss of contact inhibition, which can help determine the oncogenic potential of that gene of interest. An assay that provides a straightforward method to assess one aspect of the transforming potential of an oncogene is the Focus Formation Assay (FFA)2. When NIH 3T3 cells divide normally in culture, they do so until they reach a confluent monolayer. However, in the presence of an overexpressed oncogene, these cells can begin to grow in dense, multilayered foci1 that can be visualized and quantified by crystal violet or Hema 3 staining. In this article we describe the FFA protocol with retroviral transduction of the gene of interest into NIH 3T3 cells, and how to quantify the number of foci through staining. Retroviral transduction offers a more efficient method of gene delivery than transfection, and the use of an ecotropic murine retrovirus provides a biosafety control when working with potential human oncogenes.

The Focus Formation Assay provides a straightforward method to assess the transforming potential of a candidate oncogene.

Concentre Formação: Um Ensaio Celular para Determinar o Potencial oncogénica de um Gene

Malignant transformation of cells is typically associated with increased proliferation, loss of contact inhibition, acquisition of anchorage-independent ...

Carotid Artery Infusions for Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Taxanes in Mice

When proposing the use of a drug, drug combination, or drug delivery into a novel system, one must assess the pharmacokinetics of the drug in the study model. As the use of mouse models are often a vital step in preclinical drug discovery and drug development1-8, it is necessary to design a system to introduce drugs into mice in a uniform, reproducible manner. Ideally, the system should permit the collection of blood samples at regular intervals over a set time course. The ability to measure drug concentrations by mass-spectrometry, has allowed investigators to follow the changes in plasma drug levels over time in individual mice1, 9, 10. In this study, paclitaxel was introduced into transgenic mice as a continuous arterial infusion over three hours, while blood samples were simultaneously taken by retro-orbital bleeds at set time points. Carotid artery infusions are a potential alternative to jugular vein infusions, when factors such as mammary tumors or other obstructions make jugular infusions impractical. Using this technique, paclitaxel concentrations in plasma and tissue achieved similar levels as compared to jugular infusion. In this tutorial, we will demonstrate how to successfully catheterize the carotid artery by preparing an optimized catheter for the individual mouse model, then show how to insert and secure the catheter into the mouse carotid artery, thread the end of the catheter out through the back of the mouse&#8217;s neck, and hook the mouse to a pump to deliver a controlled rate of drug influx. Multiple low volume retro-orbital bleeds allow for analysis of plasma drug concentrations over time.

This method was developed with the goal of delivering a steady drug solution via the carotid artery, to assess the pharmacokinetics of novel drugs in mouse models.

Infusões artéria carótida para farmacocinéticas e farmacodinâmicas Análise de taxanos em Ratos

When proposing the use of a drug, drug combination, or drug delivery into a novel system, one must assess the pharmacokinetics of the drug in the study ...

Establishment of a Human Multiple Myeloma Xenograft Model in the Chicken to Study Tumor Growth, Invasion and Angiogenesis

Multiple myeloma (MM), a malignant plasma cell disease, remains incurable and novel drugs are required to improve the prognosis of patients. Due to the lack of the bone microenvironment and auto/paracrine growth factors human MM cells are difficult to cultivate. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish proper in vitro and in vivo culture systems to study the action of novel therapeutics on human MM cells. Here we present a model to grow human multiple myeloma cells in a complex 3D environment in vitro and in vivo. MM cell lines OPM-2 and RPMI-8226 were transfected to express the transgene GFP and were cultivated in the presence of human mesenchymal cells and collagen type-I matrix as three-dimensional spheroids. In addition, spheroids were grafted on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of chicken embryos and tumor growth was monitored by stereo fluorescence microscopy. Both models allow the study of novel therapeutic drugs in a complex 3D environment and the quantification of the tumor cell mass after homogenization of grafts in a transgene-specific GFP-ELISA. Moreover, angiogenic responses of the host and invasion of tumor cells into the subjacent host tissue can be monitored daily by a stereo microscope and analyzed by immunohistochemical staining against human tumor cells (Ki-67, CD138, Vimentin) or host mural cells covering blood vessels (desmin/ASMA).
In conclusion, the onplant system allows studying MM cell growth and angiogenesis in a complex 3D environment and enables screening for novel therapeutic compounds targeting survival and proliferation of MM cells.

Human multiple myeloma (MM) cells require the supportive microenvironment of mesenchymal cells and extracellular matrix components for survival and proliferation. We established an in vivo chicken embryo model with engrafted human myeloma and mesenchymal cells to study effects of cancer drugs on tumor growth, invasion and angiogenesis.

Criação de um Modelo de Xenoenxerto Humano mieloma múltiplo na galinha para estudar o crescimento tumoral, invasão e angiogênese

Multiple myeloma (MM), a malignant plasma cell disease, remains incurable and novel drugs are required to improve the prognosis of patients. Due to the ...

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.

Tridimensional (3D) Tumor Esferóide 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 ...

Utilization of the Soft Agar Colony Formation Assay to Identify Inhibitors of Tumorigenicity in Breast Cancer Cells

Given the inherent difficulties in investigating the mechanisms of tumor progression in vivo, cell-based assays such as the soft agar colony formation assay (hereafter called soft agar assay), which measures the ability of cells to proliferate in semi-solid matrices, remain a hallmark of cancer research. A key advantage of this technique over conventional 2D monolayer or 3D spheroid cell culture assays is the close mimicry of the 3D cellular environment to that seen in vivo. Importantly, the soft agar assay also provides an ideal tool to rigorously test the effects of novel compounds or treatment conditions on cell proliferation and migration. Additionally, this assay enables the quantitative assessment of cell transformation potential within the context of genetic perturbations. We recently identified peptidylarginine deiminase 2 (PADI2) as a potential breast cancer biomarker and therapeutic target. Here we highlight the utility of the soft agar assay for preclinical anti-cancer studies by testing the effects of the PADI inhibitor, BB-Cl-amidine (BB-CLA), on the tumorigenicity of human ductal carcinoma in situ (MCF10DCIS) cells.

Here, we document the use of the soft agar colony formation assay to test the effects of a peptidylarginine deiminase (PADI) enzyme inhibitor, BB-Cl-amidine, on breast cancer tumorigenicity in vitro.

Utilização do ensaio de formação de colónia agar mole para identificar inibidores de tumorigenicidade em células de cancro da mama

Given the inherent difficulties in investigating the mechanisms of tumor progression in vivo, cell-based assays such as the soft agar colony formation ...

Chick Heart Invasion Assay for Testing the Invasiveness of Cancer Cells and the Activity of Potentially Anti-invasive Compounds

The goal of the chick heart assay is to offer a relevant organ culture method to study tumor invasion in three dimensions. The assay can distinguish between invasive and non-invasive cells, and enables study of the effects of test compounds on tumor invasion. Cancer cells - either as aggregates or single cells - are confronted with fragments of embryonic chick heart. After organ culture in suspension for a few days or weeks the confronting cultures are fixed and embedded in paraffin for histological analysis. The three-dimensional interaction between the cancer cells and the normal tissue is then reconstructed from serial sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin or after immunohistochemical staining for epitopes in the heart tissue or the confronting cancer cells. The assay is consistent with the recent concept that cancer invasion is the result of molecular interactions between the cancer cells and their neighbouring stromal host elements (myofibroblasts, endothelial cells, extracellular matrix components, etc.). Here, this stromal environment is offered to the cancer cells as a living tissue fragment. Supporting aspects to the relevance of the assay are multiple. Invasion in the assay is in accordance with the criteria of cancer invasion: progressive occupation and replacement in time and space of the host tissue, and invasiveness and non-invasiveness in vivo of the confronting cells generally correlates with the outcome of the assay. Furthermore, the invasion pattern of cells in vivo, as defined by pathologists, is reflected in the histological images in the assay. Quantitative structure-activity relation (QSAR) analysis of the results obtained with numerous potentially anti-invasive organic congener compounds allowed the study of structure-activity relations for flavonoids and chalcones, and known anti-metastatic drugs used in the clinic (e.g., microtubule inhibitors) inhibit invasion in the assay as well. However, the assay does not take into account immunological contributions to cancer invasion.

Here, we present a protocol to study the invasion of tumor cells into living normal tissue fragments in three dimensions. This organ culture technique is mainly applied to test potentially anti-invasive drugs in vitro.

Pintainho Coração Invasion Ensaio para testar a invasão das células neoplásicas e da Actividade de compostos potencialmente anti-invasivos

The goal of the chick heart assay is to offer a relevant organ culture method to study tumor invasion in three dimensions. The assay can distinguish ...