ISSN: 1837-9664Journal of Cancer
Global reach, higher impact
J Cancer 2024; 15(8):2292-2305. doi:10.7150/jca.87494 This issue Cite
Research Paper
Enhancement of Tumorigenicity, Spheroid Niche, and Drug Resistance of Pancreatic Cancer Cells in Three-Dimensional Culture System
1. Department of General Surgery, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan.
2. Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
3. Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
4. School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
5. Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
6. Department of Pathology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
7. PhD Program in Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
*Both authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract
The three-dimensional (3D) cell culture technique has been applied comprehensively as a variable platform for medical research, biochemical signal pathway analysis, and evaluation of anti-tumor treatment response due to an excellent recapitulation of a tumor microenvironment (TME) in the in vitro cultured cancer cells. Pancreatic cancer (PaC) is one of the toughest malignancies with a complex TME and refractory treatment response. To comprehensively study the TME of PaC, there is an eager need to develop a 3D culture model to decompose the cellular components and their cross interactions. Herein, we establish a 3D PaC culture system with cancer stem cell (CSC) and scalability properties. To validate our model, we tested the individual PaC cell and the combined effects with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) on cancer tumorigenicity, the cellular interaction through the CXCR3/CXCL10 axis, and cellular responses reflection of anti-cancer treatments. With the help of our 3D technology, a simulated malignant spheroid with important stromal populations and TME physiochemical properties may be successfully recreated. It can be used in a wide range of preclinical research and helpful in advancing basic and translational cancer biology.
Keywords: Pancreatic cancer (PaC), cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF), two dimensional (2D), three dimensional (3D), spheroid model, CXCR3/CXCL10 axis, therapeutic discovery.
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