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Heterotypic Three-dimensional In Vitro Modeling of Stromal-Epithelial Interactions During Ovarian Cancer Initiation and Progression
Published on: August 28, 2012
In vitro three-dimensional modelling of human ovarian surface epithelial cells
K Lawrenson1, E Benjamin, M Turmaine
1Gynaecological Cancer Research Laboratories, UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK.
Cell Proliferation
|April 29, 2009
Summary
Three-dimensional (3D) ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) cell cultures better mimic OSE in vivo than 2D cultures. This advancement aids understanding of ovarian cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Oncology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) often originate from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE).
- Understanding OSE cell biology in vitro is crucial for EOC research.
- Classical 2D cell culture may not accurately represent OSE in vivo.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if three-dimensional (3D) cultures of OSE cells better replicate OSE characteristics in vivo compared to 2D cultures.
- To compare OSE cells cultured in multicellular spheroids (MCS) using different methods.
Main Methods:
- OSE cells were cultured as MCS using a rotary cell culture system (RCCS) and on polyHEMA-coated plates.
- Multicellular spheroids (MCS) and 2D cultures were analyzed via electron microscopy, Annexin V FACS analysis (apoptosis), and immunohistochemistry (extracellular matrix proteins).
Main Results:
- OSE MCS on polyHEMA-coated plates exhibited organized internal architecture.
- RCCS MCS showed disorganized structure and increased apoptosis compared to polyHEMA MCS and 2D cultures.
- 3D cultures and primary OSE demonstrated strong expression of AE1/AE3, laminin, and vimentin, which were undetectable in 2D cultures.
Conclusions:
- 3D OSE cell cultures more accurately reflect the physiological and biological features of OSE in vivo than traditional 2D methods.
- In vitro 3D OSE models hold promise for advancing the understanding of neoplastic transformation mechanisms in epithelial ovarian cancers.
