Controlling the dynamics of cell transition in heterogeneous cultures using surface chemistry.
Developing materials that can preferentially select defined cancer cell populations for biological characterization will greatly enhance our understanding of cancer cell growth, differentiation, and invasion. The transitional events between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes are particularly crucial, as primary tumors and secondary metastasis are generally epithelial in nature, whereas circulating mesenchymal cells derived from primary epithelial cells appear to facilitate the spread of disease and its resistance to therapy. This study describes an amino-functionalized material, which promotes the enrichment of an epithelial phenotype from a single cell line containing both epithelial and mesenchymal subpopulations of cancer cells. The isolation and transitional control of such subpopulations using functional materials will advance understanding of the disease process, have a significant impact on the downstream development of new targeted cancer therapeutics, and also be applicable to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK; Biomolecular & Materials Interface Research Group, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK.
Graham J
GJ
Hickman
Robert C
RC
Rees
David J
DJ
Boocock
A Graham
AG
Pockley
Carole C
CC
Perry
D000327:Adsorption; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D013499:Surface Properties; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D015820:Cadherins; D014746:Vimentin
cancer; epithelial cells; mesenchymal cells; subpopulations; surfaces