Collagen network and the mechanical microenvironment of cancer cells

Tissue invasion during metastasis requires cancer cells to negotiate a stromal environment dominated by cross-linked networks of type I collagen. Although cancer cells are known to use proteinases to sever collagen networks and thus ease their passage through these barriers, migration across extracellular matrices has also been reported to occur by protease-independent mechanisms, whereby cells squeeze through collagen-lined pores by adopting an ameboid phenotype. We investigate these alternate models of motility here and demonstrate that cancer cells have an absolute requirement for the membrane-anchored metalloproteinase MT1-MMP for invasion, and that protease-independent mechanisms of cell migration are only plausible when the collagen network is devoid of the covalent cross-links that characterize normal tissues.

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Extracellular Matrix-Mediated Breast Cancer Cells Morphological Alterations, Invasiveness, and Microvesicles/Exosomes Release

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9092031 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 2031

Author(s):

Marco Franchi ◽

Zoi Piperigkou ◽

Konstantinos-Athanasios Karamanos ◽

Leonardo Franchi ◽

Valentina Masola

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Cell Invasion ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Metastatic Potential ◽

Cancer Cell Invasion ◽

Collagen Network ◽

Morphological Alterations

Breast cancer is a leading disease in women. Several studies are focused to evaluate the critical role of extracellular matrix (ECM) in various biochemical and molecular aspects but also in terms of its effect on cancer cell morphology and therefore on cancer cell invasion and metastatic potential. ECM fibrillar components, such as collagen and fibronectin, affect cell behavior and properties of mammary cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) how the highly invasive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, interplaying with ECM substrates during cell migration/invasion, modify their morphological characteristics and cytoplasmic processes in relation to their invasive potential. In particular we reproduced and analyzed how natural structural barriers to cancer cell invasion, such as the basement membrane (Matrigel) and fibrillar components of dermis (fibronectin as well as the different concentrations/array of type I collagen), could induce morphological changes in 3D cultures. Interestingly, we demonstrate that, even with different effects, all collagen concentrations/arrays lead to morphological alterations of breast cancer cells. Intriguingly, the elongated mesenchymal shaped cells were more prominent in 3D cultures with a dense and thick substrate (thick Matrigel, high concentrated collagen network, and densely packed collagen fibers), even though cells with different shape produced and released microvesicles and exosomes as well. It is therefore evident that the peri-tumoral collagen network may act not only as a barrier but also as a dynamic scaffold which stimulates the morphological changes of cancer cells, and modulates tumor development and metastatic potential in breast cancer.

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Ultrastructural modification of cellular interactions in cancer tumor

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100082455 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 318-319

Author(s):

N. P. Dmitrieva

Keyword(s):

Cancer Cells ◽

Human Thyroid ◽

Adjacent Cell ◽

Main Role ◽

Cellular Interactions ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Cancer Tumor ◽

Normal Human ◽

Characteristic Features

One of the most characteristic features of cancer cells is their ability to metastasia. It is suggested that the modifications of the structure and properties of cancer cells surfaces play the main role in this process. The present work was aimed at finding out what ultrastructural features apear in tumor in vivo which removal of individual cancer cells from the cell population can provide. For this purpose the cellular interactions in the normal human thyroid and cancer tumor of this gland electron microscopic were studied. The tissues were fixed in osmium tetroxide and were embedded in Araldite-Epon.In normal human thyroid the most common type of intercellular contacts was represented by simple junction formed by the parallelalignment of adjacent cell membranees leaving in between an intermembranes space 15-20 nm filled with electronlucid material (Fig. 1a). Sometimes in the basal part of cells dilatations of the intercellular space 40-50 nm wide were found (Fig. 1a). Here the cell surfaces may form single short microvilli.

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Ultrastructural Localization Study of Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) in Gastric Cancer: Immunoelectron Microscopic Observation

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100158807 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 252-253

Author(s):

Dong Yuming ◽

Yang Guanglin ◽

Wu Jifeng ◽

Chen Xiaolin

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

Intestinal Metaplasia ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Microscopic Observation ◽

Biological Significance ◽

Ultrastructural Localization ◽

Mucinous Carcinoma ◽

Surface Glycoprotein ◽

Tubular Adenocarcinoma ◽

Pap Method

On the basis of light microscopic observation, the ultrastructural localization of CEA in gastric cancer was studied by immunoelectron microscopic technique. The distribution of CEA in gastric cancer and its biological significance and the mechanism of abnormal distribution of CEA were further discussed.Among 104 surgically resected specimens of gastric cancer with PAP method at light microscopic level, the incidence of CEA(+) was 85.58%. All of mucinous carcinoma exhibited CEA(+). In tubular adenocarcinoma the incidence of CEA(+) showed a tendency to rising with the increase of degree of differentiation. In normal epithelia and intestinal metaplasia CEA was faintly present and was found only in the luminal surface. The CEA staining patterns in cancer cells were of three types--- cytoplasmic, membranous and weak reactive type. The ultrastructural localization of CEA in 14 cases of gastric cancer was studied by immunoelectron microscopic technique.There was a little or no CEA in the microvilli of normal epithelia. In intestinal metaplasia CEA was found on the microvilli of absorptive cells and among the mucus particles of goblet cells. In gastric cancer CEA was also distributed on the lateral and basal surface or even over the entire surface of cancer cells and lost their polarity completely. Many studies had proved that the alterations in surface glycoprotein were characteristic changes of tumor cells. The antigenic determinant of CEA was glycoprotein, so the alterations of tumor-associated surface glycoprotein opened up a new way for the diagnosis of tumors.

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Water-soluble amphiphilic ruthenium(ii) polypyridyl complexes as potential light-activated therapeutic agents

Chemical Communications ◽

10.1039/d0cc04397d ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (65) ◽

pp. 9332-9335

Author(s):

Sandra Estalayo-Adrián ◽

Salvador Blasco ◽

Sandra A. Bright ◽

Gavin J. McManus ◽

Guillermo Orellana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cellular Uptake ◽

Therapeutic Agents ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Polypyridyl Complexes ◽

Cervical Cancer Cells

Two new water-soluble amphiphilic Ru(ii) polypyridyl complexes were synthesised and their photophysical and photobiological properties evaluated; both complexes showed a rapid cellular uptake and phototoxicity against HeLa cervical cancer cells.

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