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Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
18.8K
PLA Electrospun Scaffolds for Three-Dimensional Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Culture
Emma Polonio-Alcalá1,2, Marc Rabionet3,4, Xavier Gallardo5,6
1New Therapeutic Targets Laboratory (TargetsLab)-Oncology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Girona, Emili Grahit 77, 17003 Girona, Spain. emma.polonio@udg.edu.
Polymers
|May 26, 2019
Summary
Electrospun poly(lactic acid) scaffolds support short-term 3D cancer cell cultures. These scaffolds are suitable for culturing triple-negative breast cancer cells without enriching cancer stem cells.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cancer Biology
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems better mimic in vivo physiological conditions compared to traditional 2D cultures.
- Electrospinning of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) creates nanofibrous scaffolds resembling the natural extracellular matrix, suitable for biomedical applications.
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking targeted therapies, necessitating novel in vitro models for research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the suitability of electrospun PLA (ES-PLA) scaffolds for culturing cancer cells, specifically MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells.
- To compare gene and protein expression of EGFR and STAT3 in TNBC cells cultured in 2D versus 3D ES-PLA scaffolds.
- To investigate the potential of ES-PLA scaffolds to enrich the cancer stem cell (CSC) population in TNBC cultures.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of ES-PLA scaffolds using two different PLA concentrations (12% and 15% w/v).
- Culture of MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells on ES-PLA scaffolds and in 2D controls.
- Assessment of cell proliferation, EGFR and STAT3 gene/protein expression, and mammosphere formation assay to evaluate CSC enrichment.
Main Results:
- ES-PLA scaffolds supported the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells in 3D culture.
- Increased STAT3 activation was observed in 3D cultures, suggesting a role in cancer stem cell self-renewal.
- No significant enrichment of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) was detected after short-term culture on ES-PLA scaffolds.
Conclusions:
- Electrospun PLA scaffolds are effective for short-term 3D culturing of TNBC cells, providing a more physiologically relevant environment.
- While STAT3 activation is observed, ES-PLA scaffolds do not appear to enrich the cancer stem cell population under these conditions.
- ES-PLA scaffolds show promise as a 3D model for studying TNBC biology in short-term culture periods.
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