Mechanical stimuli and matrix properties modulate cancer spheroid growth in three-dimensional gelatin culture.

ABSTRACT: Most patients who succumb to cancer have metastases to bone that contribute to their death. Cancer cells that metastasize to bone are regularly subjected to mechanical stimuli that may affect their proliferation, growth and protein expression. Understanding why some cancer cells thrive in this environment could provide insight into new approaches to prevent or treat metastasis to bone. We used 4T1 cells as a model of breast cancer cells, and implanted them in gelatin hydrogels with moduli of 1 or 2.7 kPa to mimic the properties of bone marrow. The constructs were subjected to either perfusion of media through the hydrogel or combined perfusion and cyclic mechanical compression for 1 h d^-1 for 4 d. Controls were cultured in free-swelling conditions. The cells formed spheroids dur

SUBMITTER: Curtis KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7811591 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature