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Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics

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Isolation of Phenotypically Distinct Cancer Cells Using Nanoparticle-Mediated Sorting.

Brenda J Green, Leyla Kermanshah, Mahmoud Labib

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto , Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

|May 27, 2017

Summary

This study developed a microfluidic device using magnetic nanoparticles to isolate cancer cell subpopulations based on epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression. Low-EpCAM cells showed increased invasiveness markers, aiding cancer progression research.

Keywords:

breast cancer epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition magnetic nanoparticles microfluidics phenotype

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Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Cancer Research
Microfluidics

Background:

Isolating heterogeneous cancer cell subpopulations is crucial for understanding tumor progression and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
Characterizing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) requires methods to distinguish cells with varying phenotypes.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate a microfluidic device for separating distinct cancer cell subpopulations.
To associate cell surface marker expression (EpCAM) with functional characteristics related to invasiveness and metabolic activity.

Main Methods:

Utilized a microfluidic device with magnetic nanoparticles coated with antibodies against epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM).
Separated breast cancer cells based on EpCAM expression levels.
Assessed phenotypic properties of isolated subpopulations, including collagen uptake and NAD(P)H metabolic activity.

Main Results:

Low-EpCAM expressing cells exhibited higher collagen uptake and folate-induced NAD(P)H responses compared to high-EpCAM cells.
Hypoxia-induced cells showed reduced EpCAM expression, increased collagen uptake, and higher NAD(P)H metabolism.
Nanoparticle-mediated sorting successfully isolated functionally distinct cell subpopulations.

Conclusions:

The microfluidic device effectively isolates cancer cell subpopulations with differing phenotypes and functional characteristics.
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression levels correlate with invasiveness markers like collagen uptake and metabolic activity.
This technology aids in associating surface marker expression with cancer cell invasiveness and progression.