Cancer cell sedimentation in 3D cultures reveals active migration regulated by self-generated gradients and adhesion sites.

ABSTRACT: Cell sedimentation in 3D hydrogel cultures refers to the vertical migration of cells towards the bottom of the space. Understanding this poorly examined phenomenon may allow us to design better protocols to prevent it, as well as provide insights into the mechanobiology of cancer development. We conducted a multiscale experimental and mathematical examination of 3D cancer growth in triple negative breast cancer cells. Migration was examined in the presence and absence of Paclitaxel, in high and low adhesion environments and in the presence of fibroblasts. The observed behaviour was modeled by hypothesizing active migration due to self-generated chemotactic gradients. Our results did not reject this hypothesis, whereby migration was likely to be regulated by the MAPK and TGF-β pathways. The

SUBMITTER: Dimitriou NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11195982 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature