title: Microencapsulation of Neuroblastoma Cells and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Collagen Microspheres: A 3D Model for Cancer Cell Niche Study.
abstract: There is a growing trend for researchers to use in vitro 3D models in cancer studies, as they can better recapitulate the complex in vivo situation. And the fact that the progression and development of tumor are closely associated to its stromal microenvironment has been increasingly recognized. The establishment of such tumor supportive niche is vital in understanding tumor progress and metastasis. The mesenchymal origin of many cells residing in the cancer niche provides the rationale to include MSCs in mimicking the niche in neuroblastoma. Here we co-encapsulate and co-culture NBCs and MSCs in a 3D in vitro model and investigate the morphology, growth kinetics and matrix remodeling in the reconstituted stromal environment. Results showed that the incorporation of MSCs in the model lead to accelerated growth of cancer cells as well as recapitulation of at least partially the tumor microenvironment in vivo. The current study therefore demonstrates the feasibility for the collagen microsphere to act as a 3D in vitro cancer model for various topics in cancer studies.
authors.affiliation: Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Hoi Shun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sin
authors.affiliation: Department of Adolescence Medicine and Paediatrics, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Shing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Adolescence Medicine and Paediatrics, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Godfrey Chi Fung
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Barbara Pui
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008863:Microspheres; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9