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Goldstein Y, Cohen OT, Wald O, Bavli D, Kaplan T, Benny O. Particle uptake in cancer cells can predict malignancy and drug resistance using machine learning. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj4370. [PMID: 38809990 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Tumor heterogeneity is a primary factor that contributes to treatment failure. Predictive tools, capable of classifying cancer cells based on their functions, may substantially enhance therapy and extend patient life span. The connection between cell biomechanics and cancer cell functions is used here to classify cells through mechanical measurements, via particle uptake. Machine learning (ML) was used to classify cells based on single-cell patterns of uptake of particles with diverse sizes. Three pairs of human cancer cell subpopulations, varied in their level of drug resistance or malignancy, were studied. Cells were allowed to interact with fluorescently labeled polystyrene particles ranging in size from 0.04 to 3.36 μm and analyzed for their uptake patterns using flow cytometry. ML algorithms accurately classified cancer cell subtypes with accuracy rates exceeding 95%. The uptake data were especially advantageous for morphologically similar cell subpopulations. Moreover, the uptake data were found to serve as a form of "normalization" that could reduce variation in repeated experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoel Goldstein
- Institute for Drug Research, The School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Ora T Cohen
- Institute for Drug Research, The School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Ori Wald
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Danny Bavli
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tommy Kaplan
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Ofra Benny
- Institute for Drug Research, The School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
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Storti F, Bonfadini S, Bondelli G, Vurro V, Lanzani G, Criante L. Photocell-Based Optofluidic Device for Clogging-Free Cell Transit Time Measurements. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:154. [PMID: 38667147 PMCID: PMC11047832 DOI: 10.3390/bios14040154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Measuring the transit time of a cell forced through a bottleneck is one of the most widely used techniques for the study of cell deformability in flow. It in turn provides an accessible and rapid way of obtaining crucial information regarding cell physiology. Many techniques are currently being investigated to reliably retrieve this time, but their translation to diagnostic-oriented devices is often hampered by their complexity, lack of robustness, and the bulky external equipment required. Herein, we demonstrate the benefits of coupling microfluidics with an optical method, like photocells, to measure the transit time. We exploit the femtosecond laser irradiation followed by chemical etching (FLICE) fabrication technique to build a monolithic 3D device capable of detecting cells flowing through a 3D non-deformable constriction which is fully buried in a fused silica substrate. We validated our chip by measuring the transit times of pristine breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and MCF-7 cells treated with Latrunculin A, a drug typically used to increase their deformability. A difference in transit times can be assessed without the need for complex external instrumentation and/or demanding computational efforts. The high throughput (4000-10,000 cells/min), ease of use, and clogging-free operation of our device bring this approach much closer to real scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Storti
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Silvio Bonfadini
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
| | - Gaia Bondelli
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Vito Vurro
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Luigino Criante
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
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Pajic-Lijakovic I, Eftimie R, Milivojevic M, Bordas SPA. Segregation of co-cultured multicellular systems: review and modeling consideration. Q Rev Biophys 2024; 57:e5. [PMID: 38351868 DOI: 10.1017/s0033583524000015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Cell segregation caused by collective cell migration (CCM) is crucial for morphogenesis, functional development of tissue parts, and is an important aspect in other diseases such as cancer and its metastasis process. Efficiency of the cell segregation depends on the interplay between: (1) biochemical processes such as cell signaling and gene expression and (2) physical interactions between cells. Despite extensive research devoted to study the segregation of various co-cultured systems, we still do not understand the role of physical interactions in cell segregation. Cumulative effects of these physical interactions appear in the form of physical parameters such as: (1) tissue surface tension, (2) viscoelasticity caused by CCM, and (3) solid stress accumulated in multicellular systems. These parameters primarily depend on the interplay between the state of cell-cell adhesion contacts and cell contractility. The role of these physical parameters on the segregation efficiency is discussed on model systems such as co-cultured breast cell spheroids consisting of two subpopulations that are in contact. This review study aims to: (1) summarize biological aspects related to cell segregation, mechanical properties of cell collectives, effects along the biointerface between cell subpopulations and (2) describe from a biophysical/mathematical perspective the same biological aspects summarized before. So that overall it can illustrate the complexity of the biological systems that translate into very complex biophysical/mathematical equations. Moreover, by presenting in parallel these two seemingly different parts (biology vs. equations), this review aims to emphasize the need for experiments to estimate the variety of parameters entering the resulting complex biophysical/mathematical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Pajic-Lijakovic
- Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Beograd, Serbia
| | - Raluca Eftimie
- Laboratoire Mathematiques de Besançon, UMR-CNRS 6623, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comte, Besançon, France
| | - Milan Milivojevic
- Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Beograd, Serbia
| | - Stéphane P A Bordas
- Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication, University of Luxembourg, Institute for Computational Engineering, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Runel G, Lopez-Ramirez N, Barbollat-Boutrand L, Cario M, Durand S, Grimont M, Schartl M, Dalle S, Caramel J, Chlasta J, Masse I. Cancer Cell Biomechanical Properties Accompany Tspan8-Dependent Cutaneous Melanoma Invasion. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:694. [PMID: 38398085 PMCID: PMC10887418 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The intrinsic biomechanical properties of cancer cells remain poorly understood. To decipher whether cell stiffness modulation could increase melanoma cells' invasive capacity, we performed both in vitro and in vivo experiments exploring cell stiffness by atomic force microscopy (AFM). We correlated stiffness properties with cell morphology adaptation and the molecular mechanisms underlying epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT)-like phenotype switching. We found that melanoma cell stiffness reduction was systematically associated with the acquisition of invasive properties in cutaneous melanoma cell lines, human skin reconstructs, and Medaka fish developing spontaneous MAP-kinase-induced melanomas. We observed a systematic correlation of stiffness modulation with cell morphological changes towards mesenchymal characteristic gains. We accordingly found that inducing melanoma EMT switching by overexpressing the ZEB1 transcription factor, a major regulator of melanoma cell plasticity, was sufficient to decrease cell stiffness and transcriptionally induce tetraspanin-8-mediated dermal invasion. Moreover, ZEB1 expression correlated with Tspan8 expression in patient melanoma lesions. Our data suggest that intrinsic cell stiffness could be a highly relevant marker for human cutaneous melanoma development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Runel
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
- BioMeca, 60F, Bioserra 2, Av. Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Noémie Lopez-Ramirez
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Laetitia Barbollat-Boutrand
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Muriel Cario
- National Reference Center for Rare Skin Disease, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, INSERM 1035, 33000 Bordeaux, France
- AquiDerm, University Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Simon Durand
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Maxime Grimont
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Developmental Biochemistry, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - Stéphane Dalle
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
- Dermatology Department, Hôpital Universitaire Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Julie Caramel
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Julien Chlasta
- BioMeca, 60F, Bioserra 2, Av. Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Ingrid Masse
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
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Maja M, Verfaillie M, Van Der Smissen P, Henriet P, Pierreux CE, Sounni NE, Tyteca D. Targeting cholesterol impairs cell invasion of all breast cancer types. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:27. [PMID: 38200575 PMCID: PMC10782689 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03206-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer clinical outcome relies on its intrinsic molecular subtype and mortality is almost exclusively due to metastasis, whose mechanism remains unclear. We recently revealed the specific contribution of plasma membrane cholesterol to the invasion of malignant MCF10CAIa but not premalignant MCF10AT and normal MCF10A cell lines in 2D, through invadopodia formation and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. In the present study, we address the impact of breast cancer subtypes, mutations and aggressiveness on cholesterol implication in breast cancer cell invasion and 3D spheroid invasion and growth. METHODS We used nine breast cancer cell lines grouped in four subtypes matching breast tumor classification. Four of these cell lines were also used to generate 3D spheroids. These cell lines were compared for cell invasion in 2D and 3D, spheroid growth in 3D, gelatin degradation, cortactin expression, activation and subcellular distribution as well as cell surface cholesterol distribution and lipid droplets. The effect of plasma membrane cholesterol depletion on all these parameters was determined in parallel and systematically compared with the impact of global matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition. RESULTS The six invasive cell lines in 2D were sensitive to partial cholesterol depletion, independently of their subtype, aggressiveness or mutation. Nevertheless, the effect was stronger in the three cell lines able to degrade gelatin. 3D spheroid invasion was also reduced after cholesterol depletion in all breast cancer subtypes tested. Notably, targeting cholesterol was more powerful than MMP inhibition in reducing invasion in both 2D and 3D culture models. Moreover, cholesterol depletion in the six invasive cell lines impaired cortactin distribution in the perinuclear region where invadopodia localized. Breast cancer cell line aggressiveness relied on cholesterol-enriched domains at the ECM-free side and intracellular lipid droplets. Furthermore, the three gelatin-degrading cell lines were characterized by increased cholesterol-enriched submicrometric domains at their ECM-contact side. CONCLUSION Together, our data suggest cell surface cholesterol combined with lipid droplet labeling as a breast cancer cell aggressiveness marker. They also open the way to test other cholesterol-targeting drugs in more complex models to further evaluate whether cholesterol could represent a strategy in breast cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauriane Maja
- CELL Unit and PICT Imaging Platform, de Duve Institute, UCLouvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie Verfaillie
- CELL Unit and PICT Imaging Platform, de Duve Institute, UCLouvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Patrick Henriet
- CELL Unit and PICT Imaging Platform, de Duve Institute, UCLouvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christophe E Pierreux
- CELL Unit and PICT Imaging Platform, de Duve Institute, UCLouvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nor Eddine Sounni
- Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Donatienne Tyteca
- CELL Unit and PICT Imaging Platform, de Duve Institute, UCLouvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium.
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Gayathri R, Suchand Sandeep CS, Vijayan C, Murukeshan VM. Random Lasing for Bimodal Imaging and Detection of Tumor. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:1003. [PMID: 38131763 PMCID: PMC10742073 DOI: 10.3390/bios13121003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The interaction of light with biological tissues is an intriguing area of research that has led to the development of numerous techniques and technologies. The randomness inherent in biological tissues can trap light through multiple scattering events and provide optical feedback to generate random lasing emission. The emerging random lasing signals carry sensitive information about the scattering dynamics of the medium, which can help in identifying abnormalities in tissues, while simultaneously functioning as an illumination source for imaging. The early detection and imaging of tumor regions are crucial for the successful treatment of cancer, which is one of the major causes of mortality worldwide. In this paper, a bimodal spectroscopic and imaging system, capable of identifying and imaging tumor polyps as small as 1 mm2, is proposed and illustrated using a phantom sample for the early diagnosis of tumor growth. The far-field imaging capabilities of the developed system can enable non-contact in vivo inspections. The integration of random lasing principles with sensing and imaging modalities has the potential to provide an efficient, minimally invasive, and cost-effective means of early detection and treatment of various diseases, including cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Gayathri
- Centre for Optical and Laser Engineering (COLE), School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore 639798, Singapore; (R.G.); (C.S.S.S.)
| | - C. S. Suchand Sandeep
- Centre for Optical and Laser Engineering (COLE), School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore 639798, Singapore; (R.G.); (C.S.S.S.)
| | - C. Vijayan
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai 600036, India;
| | - V. M. Murukeshan
- Centre for Optical and Laser Engineering (COLE), School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore 639798, Singapore; (R.G.); (C.S.S.S.)
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Bao L, Kong H, Ja Y, Wang C, Qin L, Sun H, Dai S. The relationship between cancer and biomechanics. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1273154. [PMID: 37901315 PMCID: PMC10602664 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1273154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The onset, development, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer involve intricate interactions among various factors, spanning the realms of mechanics, physics, chemistry, and biology. Within our bodies, cells are subject to a variety of forces such as gravity, magnetism, tension, compression, shear stress, and biological static force/hydrostatic pressure. These forces are perceived by mechanoreceptors as mechanical signals, which are then transmitted to cells through a process known as mechanical transduction. During tumor development, invasion and metastasis, there are significant biomechanical influences on various aspects such as tumor angiogenesis, interactions between tumor cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), interactions between tumor cells and other cells, and interactions between tumor cells and the circulatory system and vasculature. The tumor microenvironment comprises a complex interplay of cells, ECM and vasculature, with the ECM, comprising collagen, fibronectins, integrins, laminins and matrix metalloproteinases, acting as a critical mediator of mechanical properties and a key component within the mechanical signaling pathway. The vasculature exerts appropriate shear forces on tumor cells, enabling their escape from immune surveillance, facilitating their dissemination in the bloodstream, dictating the trajectory of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and playing a pivotal role in regulating adhesion to the vessel wall. Tumor biomechanics plays a critical role in tumor progression and metastasis, as alterations in biomechanical properties throughout the malignant transformation process trigger a cascade of changes in cellular behavior and the tumor microenvironment, ultimately culminating in the malignant biological behavior of the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqi Bao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Renji College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongru Kong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yang Ja
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chengchao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lei Qin
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongwei Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shengjie Dai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Daniel C, Traub F, Sachsenmaier S, Riester R, Mederake M, Konrads C, Danalache M. An exploratory study of cell stiffness as a mechanical label-free biomarker across multiple musculoskeletal sarcoma cells. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:862. [PMID: 37700272 PMCID: PMC10498616 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11375-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer cells are characterized by changes in cell cytoskeletal architecture and stiffness. Despite advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of musculoskeletal cancers, the corresponding cellular mechanical properties remain largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in cellular stiffness and the associated cytoskeleton configuration alterations in various musculoskeletal cancer cells. METHODS Cell lines from five main sarcoma types of the musculoskeletal system (chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma) as well as their healthy cell counterparts (chondrocytes, osteoblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, fibroblasts, skeletal muscle cells) were subjected to cell stiffness measurements via atomic force microscopy (AFM). Biochemical and structural changes of the cytoskeleton (F-actin, β-tubulin and actin-related protein 2/3) were assessed by means of fluorescence labelling, ELISA and qPCR. RESULTS While AFM stiffness measurements showed that the majority of cancer cells (osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma) were significantly less stiff than their corresponding non-malignant counterparts (p < 0.001), the chondrosarcoma cells were significant stiffer than the chondrocytes (p < 0.001). Microscopically, the distribution of F-actin differed between malignant entities and healthy counterparts: the organisation in well aligned stress fibers was disrupted in cancer cell lines and the proteins was mainly concentrated at the periphery of the cell, whereas β-tubulin had a predominantly perinuclear localization. While the F-actin content was lower in cancer cells, particularly Ewing sarcoma (p = 0.018) and Fibrosarcoma (p = 0.023), this effect was even more pronounced in the case of β-tubulin for all cancer-healthy cell duos. Interestingly, chondrosarcoma cells were characterized by a significant upregulation of β-tubulin gene expression (p = 0.005) and protein amount (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION Modifications in cellular stiffness, along with structural and compositional cytoskeleton rearrangement, constitute typical features of sarcomas cells, when compared to their healthy counterpart. Notably, whereas a decrease in stiffness is typically a feature of malignant entities, chondrosarcoma cells were stiffer than chondrocytes, with chondrosarcoma cells exhibiting a significantly upregulated β-tubulin expression. Each Sarcoma entity may have his own cellular-stiffness and cytoskeleton organisation/composition fingerprint, which in turn may be exploited for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Daniel
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Frank Traub
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55122, Mainz, Germany
| | - Saskia Sachsenmaier
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rosa Riester
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Moritz Mederake
- Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, BG Clinic, University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Konrads
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hanseatic Hospital Stralsund, 18437, Stralsund, Germany
| | - Marina Danalache
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
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Kheirkhah N, Kornecki A, Czarnota GJ, Samani A, Sadeghi-Naini A. Enhanced full-inversion-based ultrasound elastography for evaluating tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Phys Med 2023; 112:102619. [PMID: 37343438 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2023.102619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE An enhanced ultrasound elastography technique is proposed for early assessment of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). METHODS The proposed elastography technique inputs ultrasound radiofrequency data obtained through tissue quasi-static stimulation and adapts a strain refinement algorithm formulated based on fundamental principles of continuum mechanics, coupled with an iterative inverse finite element method to reconstruct the breast Young's modulus (E) images. The technique was explored for therapy response assessment using data acquired from 25 LABC patients before and at weeks 1, 2, and 4 after the NAC initiation (100 scans). The E ratio of tumor to the surrounding tissue was calculated at different scans and compared to the baseline for each patient. Patients' response to NAC was determined many months later using standard clinical and histopathological criteria. RESULTS Reconstructed E ratio changes obtained as early as one week after the NAC onset demonstrate very good separation between the two cohorts of responders and non-responders to NAC. Statistically significant differences were observed in the E ratio changes between the two patient cohorts at weeks 1 to 4 after treatment (p-value < 0.001; statistical power greater than 97%). A significant difference in axial strain ratio changes was observed only at week 4 (p-value = 0.01; statistical power = 76%). No significant difference was observed in tumor size changes at weeks 1, 2 or 4. CONCLUSION The proposed elastography technique demonstrates a high potential for chemotherapy response monitoring in LABC patients and superior performance compared to strain imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niusha Kheirkhah
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Anat Kornecki
- Department of Medical Imaging, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Gregory J Czarnota
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Abbas Samani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Departments of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Imaging Research, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ali Sadeghi-Naini
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Šimoliūnas E, Jasmontaitė D, Skinderskis A, Rinkūnaitė I, Alksnė M, Liudvinaitis M, Baltriukienė D. Surface Stiffness Has No Impact on MCF-7 Sensitivity to Doxorubicin. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10192. [PMID: 37373337 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance to the chemotherapeutic agents in the clinical management of cancer remains a significant challenge, and the mechanical environment of cancer cells is one of the major determinants of this. Stiffening of the environment is usually associated with increased chemoresistance of cancer cells, although this process depends on the type of cancer. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer, and more than half a million people die from it each year worldwide. In this study, we used the most frequent (70% of diagnosed cases) breast cancer phenotype, representing the MCF-7 cell line, to investigate the influence of surface stiffness on its sensitivity to one of the most commonly used anticancer drugs-doxorubicin. We showed that the mechanical environment affected MCF-7 proliferation, adhesion, and the expression and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Furthermore, the role of MAPKs in response to doxorubicin was dependent on surface stiffness; nevertheless, surface stiffness did not affect MCF-7 resistance to doxorubicin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egidijus Šimoliūnas
- Department of Biological Models, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Daiva Jasmontaitė
- Department of Biological Models, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Algimantas Skinderskis
- Department of Biological Models, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Ieva Rinkūnaitė
- Department of Biological Models, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Milda Alksnė
- Department of Biological Models, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Mantas Liudvinaitis
- Department of Biological Models, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Daiva Baltriukienė
- Department of Biological Models, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
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11
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Murashko AV, Frolova AA, Akovantseva AA, Kotova SL, Timashev PS, Efremov YM. The cell softening as a universal indicator of cell damage during cytotoxic effects. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130348. [PMID: 36977439 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
Abstract
Cytotoxicity assays are essential tests in studies on the safety and biocompatibility of various substances and on the efficiency of anticancer drugs. The most frequently used assays commonly require application of externally added labels and read only collective response of cells. Recent studies show that the internal biophysical parameters of cells can be associated with the cellular damage. Therefore, using atomic force microscopy, we assessed the changes in the viscoelastic parameters of cells treated with eight different common cytotoxic agents to gain a more systematic view of the occurring mechanical changes. With the robust statistical analysis to account for both the cell-level variability and the experimental reproducibility, we have found that cell softening is a common response after each treatment. More precisely, the combined changes in the viscoelastic parameters of power-law rheology model led to a significant decrease of the apparent elastic modulus. The comparison with the morphological parameters (cytoskeleton and cell shape) demonstrated a higher sensitivity of the mechanical parameters versus the morphological ones. The obtained results support the idea of cell mechanics-based cytotoxicity tests and suggest a common way of a cell responding to damaging actions by softening.
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12
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Nanoscale Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer Metastasis from AFM Image Processing of Histological Sections. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041220. [PMID: 36831563 PMCID: PMC9953928 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Early ascertainment of metastatic tumour phases is crucial to improve cancer survival, formulate an accurate prognostic report of disease advancement, and, most importantly, quantify the metastatic progression and malignancy state of primary cancer cells with a universal numerical indexing system. This work proposes an early improvement to metastatic cancer detection with 97.7 nm spatial resolution by indexing the metastatic cancer phases from the analysis of atomic force microscopy images of human colorectal cancer histological sections. The procedure applies variograms of residuals of Gaussian filtering and theta statistics of colorectal cancer tissue image settings. This methodology elucidates the early metastatic progression at the nanoscale level by setting metastatic indexes and critical thresholds based on relatively large histological sections and categorising the malignancy state of a few suspicious cells not identified with optical image analysis. In addition, we sought to detect early tiny morphological differentiations indicating potential cell transition from epithelial cell phenotypes of low metastatic potential to those of high metastatic potential. This metastatic differentiation, which is also identified in higher moments of variograms, sets different hierarchical levels for metastatic progression dynamics.
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13
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Wang EJY, Chen IH, Kuo BYT, Yu CC, Lai MT, Lin JT, Lin LYT, Chen CM, Hwang T, Sheu JJC. Alterations of Cytoskeleton Networks in Cell Fate Determination and Cancer Development. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121862. [PMID: 36551290 PMCID: PMC9775460 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytoskeleton proteins have been long recognized as structural proteins that provide the necessary mechanical architecture for cell development and tissue homeostasis. With the completion of the cancer genome project, scientists were surprised to learn that huge numbers of mutated genes are annotated as cytoskeletal or associated proteins. Although most of these mutations are considered as passenger mutations during cancer development and evolution, some genes show high mutation rates that can even determine clinical outcomes. In addition, (phospho)proteomics study confirms that many cytoskeleton-associated proteins, e.g., β-catenin, PIK3CA, and MB21D2, are important signaling mediators, further suggesting their biofunctional roles in cancer development. With emerging evidence to indicate the involvement of mechanotransduction in stemness formation and cell differentiation, mutations in these key cytoskeleton components may change the physical/mechanical properties of the cells and determine the cell fate during cancer development. In particular, tumor microenvironment remodeling triggered by such alterations has been known to play important roles in autophagy, metabolism, cancer dormancy, and immune evasion. In this review paper, we will highlight the current understanding of how aberrant cytoskeleton networks affect cancer behaviors and cellular functions through mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Ja-Yang Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
| | - I-Hsuan Chen
- Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 813405, Taiwan
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Health Care, Tajen University, Pingtung County 907391, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Brian Yu-Ting Kuo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Cheng Yu
- Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 813405, Taiwan
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Health Care, Tajen University, Pingtung County 907391, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114202, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsung Lai
- Department of Pathology, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung 403301, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Tai Lin
- Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 813405, Taiwan
| | - Leo Yen-Ting Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Mei Chen
- Human Genetic Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404327, Taiwan
| | - Tritium Hwang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
| | - Jim Jinn-Chyuan Sheu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807378, Taiwan
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
- Institute of Precision Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-7-5252000 (ext. 7102)
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14
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Civale J, Parasaram V, Bamber JC, Harris EJ. High frequency ultrasound vibrational shear wave elastography for preclinical research. Phys Med Biol 2022; 67:245005. [PMID: 36410042 PMCID: PMC9728510 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aca4b8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical evaluation of novel therapies using models of cancer is an important tool in cancer research, where imaging can provide non-invasive tools to characterise the internal structure and function of tumours. The short propagation paths when imaging tumours and organs in small animals allow the use of high frequencies for both ultrasound and shear waves, providing the opportunity for high-resolution shear wave elastography and hence its use for studying the heterogeneity of tissue elasticity, where heterogeneity may be a predictor of tissue response. Here we demonstrate vibrational shear wave elastography (VSWE) using a mechanical actuator to produce high frequency (up to 1000 Hz) shear waves in preclinical tumours, an alternative to the majority of preclinical ultrasound SWE studies where an acoustic radiation force impulse is required to create a relatively low-frequency broad-band shear-wave pulse. We implement VSWE with a high frequency (17.8 MHz) probe running a focused line-by-line ultrasound imaging sequence which as expected was found to offer improved detection of 1000 Hz shear waves over an ultrafast planar wave imaging sequence in a homogenous tissue-mimicking phantom. We test the VSWE in anex vivotumour xenograft, demonstrating the ability to detect shear waves up to 10 mm from the contactor position at 1000 Hz. By reducing the kernel size used for shear wave speed estimation to 1 mm we are able to produce shear wave speed images with spatial resolution of this order. Finally, we present VSWE data from xenograft tumoursin vivo, demonstrating the feasibility of the technique in mice under isoflurane sedation. Mean shear wave speeds in the tumours are in good agreements with those reported by previous authors. Characterising the frequency dependence of shear wave speed demonstrates the potential to quantify the viscoelastic properties of tumoursin vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Civale
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, United Kingdom
| | - V Parasaram
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, United Kingdom
| | - JC Bamber
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, United Kingdom
| | - EJ Harris
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, United Kingdom
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15
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Elitas M, Islam M, Korvink JG, Sengul E, Sharbati P, Ozogul B, Kaymaz SV. Quantifying Deformation and Migration Properties of U87 Glioma Cells Using Dielectrophoretic Forces. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:946. [PMID: 36354455 PMCID: PMC9688500 DOI: 10.3390/bios12110946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most aggressive malignant primary brain tumors. To design effective treatment strategies, we need to better understand the behavior of glioma cells while maintaining their genetic and phenotypic stability. Here, we investigated the deformation and migration profile of U87 Glioma cells under the influence of dielectrophoretic forces. We fabricated a gold microelectrode array within a microfluidic channel and applied sinusoidal wave AC potential at 3 Vpp, ranging from 30 kHz to 10 MHz frequencies, to generate DEP forces. We followed the dielectrophoretic movement and deformation changes of 100 glioma cells at each frequency. We observed that the mean dielectrophoretic displacements of glioma cells were significantly different at varying frequencies with the maximum and minimum traveling distances of 13.22 µm and 1.37 µm, respectively. The dielectrophoretic deformation indexes of U87 glioma cells altered between 0.027-0.040. It was 0.036 in the absence of dielectrophoretic forces. This approach presents a rapid, robust, and sensitive characterization method for quantifying membrane deformation of glioma cells to determine the state of the cells or efficacy of administrated drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meltem Elitas
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
| | - Monsur Islam
- Institute for Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jan G. Korvink
- Institute for Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Esra Sengul
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Pouya Sharbati
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
| | - Beyzanur Ozogul
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
| | - Sumeyra Vural Kaymaz
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
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16
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Cherry ABC, Gherardin NA, Sikder HI. Intracellular radar: Understanding γδ T cell immune surveillance and implications for clinical strategies in oncology. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1011081. [PMID: 36212425 PMCID: PMC9539555 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1011081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells play a key role in anticancer immunity, with responses mediated through a diversity of αβ or γδ T cell receptors. Although αβ and γδ T cells stem from common thymic precursors, the development and subsequent biological roles of these two subsets differ considerably. γδ T cells are an unconventional T cell subset, uniquely poised between the adaptive and innate immune systems, that possess the ability to recognize intracellular disturbances and non-peptide-based antigens to eliminate tumors. These distinctive features of γδ T cells have led to recent interest in developing γδ-inspired therapies for treating cancer patients. In this minireview, we explore the biology of γδ T cells, including how the γδ T cell immune surveillance system can detect intracellular disturbances, and propose a framework to understand the γδ T cell-inspired therapeutic strategies entering the clinic today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne B. C. Cherry
- Axiom Healthcare Strategies, Princeton, NJ, United States
- *Correspondence: Anne B. C. Cherry,
| | - Nicholas A. Gherardin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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17
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Onwudiwe K, Burchett AA, Datta M. Mechanical and metabolic interplay in the brain metastatic microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:932285. [PMID: 36059679 PMCID: PMC9436395 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.932285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this Perspective, we provide our insights and opinions about the contribution—and potential co-regulation—of mechanics and metabolism in incurable breast cancer brain metastasis. Altered metabolic activity can affect cancer metastasis as high glucose supply and demand in the brain microenvironment favors aerobic glycolysis. Similarly, the altered mechanical properties of disseminating cancer cells facilitate migration to and metastatic seeding of the brain, where local metabolites support their progression. Cancer cells in the brain and the brain tumor microenvironment often possess opposing mechanical and metabolic properties compared to extracranial cancer cells and their microenvironment, which inhibit the ease of extravasation and metastasis of these cells outside the central nervous system. We posit that the brain provides a metabolic microenvironment that mechanically reinforces the cellular structure of cancer cells and supports their metastatic growth while restricting their spread from the brain to external organs.
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18
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Biomechanical Sensing Using Gas Bubbles Oscillations in Liquids and Adjacent Technologies: Theory and Practical Applications. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12080624. [PMID: 36005019 PMCID: PMC9406219 DOI: 10.3390/bios12080624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Gas bubbles present in liquids underpin many natural phenomena and human-developed technologies that improve the quality of life. Since all living organisms are predominantly made of water, they may also contain bubbles—introduced both naturally and artificially—that can serve as biomechanical sensors operating in hard-to-reach places inside a living body and emitting signals that can be detected by common equipment used in ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging procedures. This kind of biosensor is the focus of the present article, where we critically review the emergent sensing technologies based on acoustically driven oscillations of bubbles in liquids and bodily fluids. This review is intended for a broad biosensing community and transdisciplinary researchers translating novel ideas from theory to experiment and then to practice. To this end, all discussions in this review are written in a language that is accessible to non-experts in specific fields of acoustics, fluid dynamics and acousto-optics.
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19
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Universal Markers Unveil Metastatic Cancerous Cross-Sections at Nanoscale. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153728. [PMID: 35954392 PMCID: PMC9367376 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We propose the use of two universal morphometric indices whose synergetic potency leads to the classification of a cancerous tissue of a few nanometers in size as metastatic or non-metastatic. The method is label-free, operates on conventional histological cross-sections, recording surface height–height roughness by AFM, and detects nanoscale changes associated with the progress of carcinogenesis which are the output of combined statistical approaches, namely multifractal analysis and the generalized moments method. The benefit of this approach is at least two-fold. On the one hand, its application in the context of early diagnosis can increase the life expectancy of patients, and on the other hand, differentiation between metastatic and non-metastatic tissues at the singular cell level can lead to new methodologies to treat cancer biology and therapies. Abstract The characterization of cancer histological sections as metastatic, M, or not-metastatic, NM, at the cellular size level is important for early diagnosis and treatment. We present timely warning markers of metastasis, not identified by existing protocols and used methods. Digitized atomic force microscopy images of human histological cross-sections of M and NM colorectal cancer cells were analyzed by multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis and the generalized moments method analysis. Findings emphasize the multifractal character of all samples and accentuate room for the differentiation of M from NM cross-sections. Two universal markers emphatically achieve this goal performing very well: (a) the ratio of the singularity parameters (left/right), which are defined relative to weak/strong fluctuations in the multifractal spectrum, is always greater than 0.8 for NM tissues; and (b) the index of multifractality, used to classify universal multifractals, points to log-normal distribution for NM and to log-Cauchy for M tissues. An immediate large-scale screening of cancerous sections is doable based on these findings.
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20
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Mechanical signatures of human colon cancers. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12475. [PMID: 35864200 PMCID: PMC9304395 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16669-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Besides the standard parameters used for colorectal cancer (CRC) management, new features are needed in clinical practice to improve progression-free and overall survival. In some cancers, the microenvironment mechanical properties can contribute to cancer progression and metastasis formation, or constitute a physical barrier for drug penetration or immune cell infiltration. These mechanical properties remain poorly known for colon tissues. Using a multidisciplinary approach including clinical data, physics and geostatistics, we characterized the stiffness of healthy and malignant colon specimens. For this purpose, we analyzed a prospective cohort of 18 patients with untreated colon adenocarcinoma using atomic force microscopy to generate micrometer-scale mechanical maps. We characterized the stiffness of normal epithelium samples taken far away or close to the tumor area and selected tumor tissue areas. These data showed that normal epithelium was softer than tumors. In tumors, stroma areas were stiffer than malignant epithelial cell areas. Among the clinical parameters, tumor left location, higher stage, and RAS mutations were associated with increased tissue stiffness. Thus, in patients with CRC, measuring tumor tissue rigidity may have a translational value and an impact on patient care.
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21
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Maja M, Mohammed D, Dumitru AC, Verstraeten S, Lingurski M, Mingeot-Leclercq MP, Alsteens D, Tyteca D. Surface cholesterol-enriched domains specifically promote invasion of breast cancer cell lines by controlling invadopodia and extracellular matrix degradation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:417. [PMID: 35819726 PMCID: PMC9276565 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04426-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Tumor cells exhibit altered cholesterol content. However, cholesterol structural subcellular distribution and implication in cancer cell invasion are poorly understood mainly due to difficulties to investigate cholesterol both quantitatively and qualitatively and to compare isogenic cell models. Here, using the MCF10A cell line series (non-tumorigenic MCF10A, pre-malignant MCF10AT and malignant MCF10CAIa cells) as a model of breast cancer progression and the highly invasive MDA-MB-231 cell line which exhibits the common TP53 mutation, we investigated if cholesterol contributes to cancer cell invasion, whether the effects are specific to cancer cells and the underlying mechanism. We found that partial membrane cholesterol depletion specifically and reversibly decreased invasion of the malignant cell lines. Those cells exhibited dorsal surface cholesterol-enriched submicrometric domains and narrow ER-plasma membrane and ER-intracellular organelles contact sites. Dorsal cholesterol-enriched domains can be endocytosed and reach the cell ventral face where they were involved in invadopodia formation and extracellular matrix degradation. In contrast, non-malignant cells showed low cell invasion, low surface cholesterol exposure and cholesterol-dependent focal adhesions. The differential cholesterol distribution and role in breast cancer cell invasion provide new clues for the understanding of the molecular events underlying cellular mechanisms in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauriane Maja
- CELL Unit and PICT Imaging Platform, de Duve Institute, UCLouvain, B1.75.05, avenue Hippocrate, 75, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Danahe Mohammed
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology (LIBST), UCLouvain, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Andra C Dumitru
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology (LIBST), UCLouvain, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Sandrine Verstraeten
- Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Unit (FACM), Louvain Drug Research Institute, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maxime Lingurski
- CELL Unit and PICT Imaging Platform, de Duve Institute, UCLouvain, B1.75.05, avenue Hippocrate, 75, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - David Alsteens
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology (LIBST), UCLouvain, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Donatienne Tyteca
- CELL Unit and PICT Imaging Platform, de Duve Institute, UCLouvain, B1.75.05, avenue Hippocrate, 75, 1200, Brussels, Belgium.
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22
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Sengul E, Sharbati P, Elitas M, Islam M, Korvink JG. Analysis of U87 glioma cells by dielectrophoresis. Electrophoresis 2022; 43:1357-1365. [PMID: 35366348 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202100374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most aggressive and invasive brain cancer consisting of genetically and phenotypically altering glial cells. It has massive heterogeneity due to its highly complex and dynamic microenvironment. Here, electrophysiological properties of U87 human glioma cell line were measured based on a dielectrophoresis phenomenon to quantify the population heterogeneity of glioma cells. Dielectrophoretic forces were generated using a gold-microelectrode array within a microfluidic channel when 3 Vpp and 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 kHz, 1, 2, 5, and 10 MHz frequencies were applied. We analyzed the dielectrophoretic behavior of 500 glioma cells, and revealed that the crossover frequency of glioma cells was around 140 kHz. A quantifying dielectrophoretic movement of the glioma cells exhibited three distinct glioma subpopulations: 50% of the glioma cells experienced strong, 30% of the cells were spread in the microchannel by moderate, and the rest of the cells experienced very weak positive dielectrophoretic forces. Our results demonstrated the dielectrophoretic spectra of U87 glioma cell line. Dielectrophoretic responses of glioma cells linked population heterogeneity to membrane properties of glioma cells rather than their size distribution in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esra Sengul
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pouya Sharbati
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Meltem Elitas
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey.,Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Monsur Islam
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Microstructure Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Jan G Korvink
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Microstructure Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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23
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Kumela AG, Gemta AB, Desta TA, Kebede A. Noble classical and quantum approach to model the optical properties of metallic nanoparticles to enhance the sensitivity of optoplasmonic sensors. RSC Adv 2022; 12:16203-16214. [PMID: 35755132 PMCID: PMC9173576 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra00824f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The bright light obtained from the quantum principle has a key role in the construction of optical sensors. Yet, theoretical and experimental work highlights the challenges of overcoming the high cost and low efficiency of such sensors. Therefore, we report a metallic nanoparticle-based metasurface plasmons polariton using quantum and classical models. We have investigated the material properties, absorption cross-section, scattering cross-section, and efficiency of the classical model. By quantizing light-matter interaction, the quantum features of light - degree of squeezing, correlation, and entanglement are quantified numerically and computationally. In addition, we note the penetration depth and propagation length from a hybrid model in order to enhance the optoplasmonic sensor performance for imaging, diagnosing, and early perception of cancer cells with label-free, direct, and real-time detection. Our study findings conclude that the frequency of incident light, size, shape, and type of nanoparticles has a significant impact on the optical properties of metallic nanoparticles and the nonlinear optical properties of metallic nanoparticles are dynamic, enhancing the sensitivity of the optoplasmonic sensor. Moreover, the resulting bright light shows the systematic potential for further medical image processing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Alemu Kebede
- Adama Science and Technology University Adama Ethiopia
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Singh N, Sharma S, Singh R, Rajput S, Chattopadhyay N, Tewari D, Joshi KB, Verma S. A naphthalimide-based peptide conjugate for concurrent imaging and apoptosis induction in cancer cells by utilizing endogenous hydrogen sulfide. Chem Sci 2021; 12:16085-16091. [PMID: 35024130 PMCID: PMC8672725 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc04030h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The excessive production of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in cancer cells leads to enhanced tumor growth and metastasis. On the other hand, decreased endogenous H2S suppresses tumor growth. The reported approaches for inhibiting tumor growth are selective silencing of the tumor-promoting genes and pharmacological inhibition of these proteins. To enhance the antitumor efficacy of frontline chemotherapeutic agents, herein, we synthesized a highly sensitive endogenous H2S responsive fluorescent probe, i.e., a hydrogen sulfide-sensing naphthalimide-based peptide conjugate (HSNPc), which showed selective inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells due to apoptosis induction. Furthermore, HSNPc suppressed the glycolytic reserve, a critical energy source for the proliferation of cancer cells. HSNPc also decreased the Young's modulus of HeLa cells compared to the control cells, which demonstrated a direct relation between cell apoptosis and cell stiffness. Taken together, we demonstrated the dual function of detection and killing of cancer cells by HSNPc that can be likened to a theranostic role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narendra Singh
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Nanosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur U.P. 208016 India
| | - Swati Sharma
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Nanosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur U.P. 208016 India
| | - Ramesh Singh
- Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University) Sagar M.P. 470003 India
| | - Swati Rajput
- CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road Lucknow 226031 Uttar Pradesh India
| | - Naibedya Chattopadhyay
- CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road Lucknow 226031 Uttar Pradesh India
| | - Deepshikha Tewari
- Advance Imaging Center, Centre for Nanosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur U.P. 208016 India
| | - Khashti Ballabh Joshi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University) Sagar M.P. 470003 India
| | - Sandeep Verma
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Nanosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur U.P. 208016 India
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Huang K, Liu J, Chen Q, Feng D, Wu H, Aldanakh A, Jian Y, Xu Z, Wang S, Yang D. The effect of mechanical force in genitourinary malignancies. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2021; 22:53-64. [PMID: 34726963 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2022.2000864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mechanical force is attributed to the formation of tumor blood vessels, influences cancer cell invasion and metastasis, and promotes reprogramming of the energy metabolism. Currently, therapy strategies for the tumor microenvironment are being developed progressively. The purpose of this article is to discuss the molecular mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment of mechanical force in urinary tract cancers and outline the medications used in the mechanical microenvironment. AREAS COVERED This review covers the complex mechanical elements in the microenvironment of urinary system malignancies, focusing on mechanical molecular mechanisms for diagnosis and treatment. EXPERT OPINION The classification of various mechanical forces, such as matrix stiffness, shear force, and other forces, is relatively straightforward. However, little is known about the molecular process of mechanical forces in urinary tract malignancies. Because mechanical therapy is still controversial, it is critical to understand the molecular basis of mechanical force before adding mechanical therapy solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Huang
- Department of Urology, First Affifiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Junqiang Liu
- Department of Urology, First Affifiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Qiwei Chen
- Department of Urology, First Affifiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,School of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian City, China
| | - Dan Feng
- Department of Urology, First Affifiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Haotian Wu
- Department of Urology, First Affifiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Abdullah Aldanakh
- Department of Urology, First Affifiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yuli Jian
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Glycobiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Zhongyang Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Glycobiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Shujing Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Glycobiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Deyong Yang
- Department of Urology, First Affifiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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Ando T. Biophysical reviews top five: atomic force microscopy in biophysics. Biophys Rev 2021; 13:455-458. [PMID: 34466165 PMCID: PMC8355283 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-021-00820-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Since its invention in the late 1980s, atomic force microscopy (AFM), in which a nanometer-sized tip is used to physically interrogate the properties of a surface at high resolution, has brought about scientific revolutions in both surface science and biological physics. In response to a request from the journal, I have prepared a top-five list of scientific papers that I feel represent truly landmark developments in the use of AFM in the biophysics field. This selection is necessarily limited by number (just five) and subjective (my opinion) and I offer my apologies to those not appearing in this list.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshio Ando
- Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192 Japan
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