Mesenchymal-mode migration assay and antimetastatic drug screening with high-throughput microfluidic channel networks.
Increasing evidence shows that activated mesenchymal migration is a key process of the metastatic cascade. Cancer cells usually gain such migratory capability through an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Herein we present a high-throughput microfluidic device with 3120 microchambers to specifically monitor mesenchymal migration. Through imaging of the whole chip and statistical analysis, we can evaluate the two key factors of velocity and percentage related to cell migratory capacity at different cell densities in culture. We also used the device to screen antimetastatic drugs for their inhibition of mesenchymal migration and prevention of metastatic malignancy. This device will provide an excellent platform for biologists to gain a better understanding of cancer metastasis.
Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030 (USA); Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065 (USA).
Yuanqing
Y
Zhang
Weijia
W
Zhang
Lidong
L
Qin
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor / Q000379:methods; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D004867:Equipment Design; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
cancer; high-throughput screening; mesenchymal-mode migration; metastasis; microfluidics