title: Superporous Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate Cryogel with a Defined Elastic Modulus for Prostate Cancer Cell Research.
abstract: The physical and mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment are crucial for the growth, differentiation and migration of cancer cells. However, such microenvironment is not found in the geometric constraints of 2D cell culture systems used in many cancer studies. Prostate cancer research, in particular, suffers from the lack of suitable in vitro models. Here a 3D superporous scaffold is described with thick pore walls in a mechanically stable and robust architecture to support prostate tumor growth. This scaffold is generated from the cryogelation of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate to produce a defined elastic modulus for prostate tumor growth. Lymph node carcinoma of the prostate (LNCaP) cells show a linear growth over 21 d as multicellular tumor spheroids in such a scaffold with points of attachments to the walls of the scaffold. These LNCaP cells respond to the growth promoting effects of androgens and demonstrate a characteristic cytoplasmic-nuclear translocation of the androgen receptor and androgen-dependent gene expression. Compared to 2D cell culture, the expression or androgen response of prostate cancer specific genes is greatly enhanced in the LNCaP cells in this system. This scaffold is therefore a powerful tool for prostate cancer studies with unique advantages over 2D cell culture systems.
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Microstructure Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Göppert
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Functional Interfaces, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sollich
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Microstructure Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abaffy
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Beam Physics and Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cecilia
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Microstructure Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heckmann
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neeb
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Microstructure Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bäcker
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Photon and Synchrotron Radiation, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Tilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baumbach
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Microstructure Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Friederike J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Gruhl
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrew C B
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cato
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D059985:Cryogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms
chemical_list: D059985:Cryogels; C437167:poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
keywords: 3D cell cultures; androgen action; cancer treatment; enzalutamide; multicellular tumor spheroids; prostate specific antigen