Analysis of tumoral spheres growing in a multichamber microfluidic device

BELGOROSKY D.; FERNÁNDEZ-CABADA T.; PEÑAHERRERA- PAZMIÑO A.; LANGLE Y.; ROSS B.; SHEKHAR B.; PÉREZ M.; EIJÁN A.; LERNER B.

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2018 vol. 9 p. 6327 - 6336

0021-9541

Lab on a Chip (LOC) farming systems have emerged as a powerful tool for single cell studiescombined with a non-adherent cell culture substrate and single cell capture chips for the studyof single cell derived tumor spheres. Cancer is characterized by its cellular heterogeneitywhere only a small population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for tumormetastases and recurrences. Thus, the in vitro strategy to the formation of a single cell-derivedsphere is an attractive alternative to identify CSCs. In this study, we test the effectiveness ofmicrodevices for analysis of heterogeneity within CSC populations and its interaction withdifferent components of the extracellular matrix. CSC could be identify using specific markersrelated to its pluripotency and self-renewal characteristics such as the transcription factorOct4 or the surface protein CD44. The results confirm the usefulness of LOC as an effectivemethod for quantification of CSC, through the formation of spheres under conditions of lowadhesion or growing on components of the extracellular matrix. The device used is also a goodalternative for evaluating the individual growth of each sphere and further identification ofthese CSC markers by immunofluorescence. In conclusion, LOC devices have not only thealready known advantages, but they are also a promising tool since they use small amounts ofreagents and are under specific culture parameters. LOC devices could be considered as anovel technology to be used as a complement or replacement of traditional studies on cultureplates.