Induction of metastatic phenotype expression based on rapid cancer spheroid fabrication method

Abstract

Cancer metastasis remains largely unexplored, despite remarkable advances in treatment technology. Three-dimensional cultures (spheroids) are being used to attempt to reproduce cancer tissue, and highly reproducible quantitative experimental techniques are being developed. We have developed a method to easily generate cancer spheroids and control their size. In this study, we analyzed cell proliferation within the spheroids and the dynamics of cells escaping from the spheroids by culturing them under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Breast cancer cells that escaped from spheroids under hypoxic conditions showed increased proliferation and early metastasis-associated migration, suggesting the possibility of induction and regulation of the metastatic phenotype.