An in vitro tumorigenesis model based on live-cell-generated oxygen and nutrient gradients
Anne C. Gilmore, Sarah J. Flaherty, Veena Somasundaram, David A. Scheiblin, Stephen Lockett, David A. Wink, William F. Heinz
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is multi-cellular, spatially heterogenous, and contains cell-generated gradients of soluble molecules. Current cell-based model systems lack this complexity or are difficult to interrogate microscopically. We present a 2D live-cell chamber that approximates the TME and demonstrate that breast cancer cells and macrophages generate hypoxic and nutrient gradients, self-organize, and have spatially varying phenotypes along the gradients, leading to new insights into tumorigenesis.
Topics & Concepts
CarcinogenesisTumor microenvironmentCellCell biologyPhenotypeCancer cellBiologyIn vitroNutrientTumor cellsBiophysicsChemistryCancerCancer researchBiochemistryEcologyGeneticsGeneCancer Cells and MetastasisCancer, Hypoxia, and MetabolismImmune cells in cancer