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The Thyroid Gland01:23

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The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck and covers the anterior surface of the trachea. The gland has two lateral lobes connected by a thin tissue mass called the isthmus. Internally, each lobe comprises many small spherical structures known as thyroid follicles, surrounded by a network of blood vessels.
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Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
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Fighting Thyroid Cancer with Microgravity Research.

Marcus Krüger1, Daniela Melnik2, Sascha Kopp3

  • 1Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto von Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. marcus.krueger@med.ovgu.de.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|May 30, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Microgravity research reveals that thyroid cancer cells form 3D structures, mimicking in-vivo conditions. These multicellular spheroids (MCS) offer new insights into cancer biology and potential therapeutic targets.

Keywords:
aggressivenesscytokinesmetastasissignal transductionspheroidstargetthree-dimensional growth

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Area of Science:

  • Space biology
  • Cancer research
  • Cell biology

Background:

  • Microgravity environments, including space and ground-based simulations, offer unique conditions for studying cellular processes.
  • Investigating tumor cell behavior in microgravity provides insights unattainable under normal laboratory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of microgravity on thyroid cancer cells.
  • To understand how microgravity influences tumor biology, cell structure, and behavior.
  • To explore the potential of microgravity-induced multicellular spheroids (MCS) as a model for cancer research and drug development.

Main Methods:

  • Culturing thyroid cancer cells in microgravity conditions (space or simulated).
  • Analyzing the formation of three-dimensional multicellular spheroids (MCS) from adherently growing cells.
  • Comparing the behavior and characteristics of MCS with cells grown in 2D cultures under normal gravity.
  • Investigating cellular and structural changes, including apoptosis, cytoskeleton, and extracellular matrix alterations.

Main Results:

  • Cancer cells detached from surfaces and formed three-dimensional multicellular spheroids (MCS) in microgravity.
  • MCS more closely mimicked in-vivo conditions compared to 2D cultures.
  • Microgravity significantly impacted cellular processes like apoptosis and structural components.
  • Follicular thyroid cancer cells exhibited a shift towards a less-malignant phenotype under microgravity.

Conclusions:

  • Microgravity provides a unique model system for studying cancer biology and metastasis.
  • Multicellular spheroids (MCS) formed in microgravity are valuable for developing novel cancer treatment strategies.
  • Understanding microgravity-induced cellular changes can lead to new therapeutic approaches and preventive measures for cancer.