Experimental model of ovarian cancer shows effect of healthy cell
arrangement in metastasis
Link between defects in the arrangement of healthy cells, how quickly
tumor cells invade tissue

Date:
August 3, 2021
Source:
American Institute of Physics
Summary:
A key element to slowing metastasis in ovarian cancer
is understanding the mechanisms of how tumor cells invade
tissues. Biophysics researchers explain how microscopic defects
in how healthy cells line up can alter how easily ovarian cancer
cells invade tissue. Using an experimental model, the group found
that disruptions in the normal cellular layout, called topological
defects, affect the rate of tumor cell invasion.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Ovarian cancer devastates more than 20,000 women in the U.S. every
year, due in part to its tendency to evade detection and present after metastatic spread. A key element to slowing metastasis is understanding
the mechanisms of how tumor cells invade tissues.


==========================================================================
In APL Bioengineering, by AIP Publishing, biophysics researchers at
the University of Wisconsin explain how microscopic defects in how
healthy cells line up can alter how easily ovarian cancer cells invade
tissue. Using an experimental model, where the cellular makeup mimics
the lining of the abdominal cavity, the group found that disruptions in
the normal cellular layout, called topological defects, affect the rate
of tumor cell invasion.

"My lab is very interested in identifying ways to slow metastasis. This
study is exciting, because it demonstrates a unique role for organization
of nontumor cells to either aid or slow that process," said author
Pamela Kreeger.

"Identifying factors that regulate this organization could help us to
achieve our goal." Topological defects are well known to the world of
physics, ranging from quantum field theory to cosmological phenomena,
but are only starting to find use in medicine and biology.

The group's model consisted of a single layer of healthy cells, called mesothelial cells, the predominant cell type that covers structures
inside the abdomen, where ovarian cancer often metastasizes.

"A common way to fill space is a honeycomblike packing, in which each
'cell' would be nearly spherical," said author Jacob Notbohm. "But in
our case, the mesothelial cells were elongated, making the honeycomb
packing not possible." Such elongation led to areas of well-ordered cell layers and left other areas with alignment imperfections, causing the topological defects. These flaws in this alignment have been associated
with a host of microscopic influences, including altered cell density,
motion, and forces.

They seeded ovarian cancer cells on top of the mesothelial cell layer
and compared what effect the arrangement of the mesothelial cells had
on how the tumor cells passed through this barrier.

The patterns of cell flow were different near the defects, with certain
defects causing inward cell flow, toward the center of the defect. At
those locations of inward flow, the cancer cells passed through the
mesothelial barrier more slowly.

In addition to pursuing the impact of topographical organization in
cancer cell metastasis, the group is looking to investigate the cause
of topological defects, with the hopes of finding ways to direct cell patterning in uses, such as tissue engineering.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Institute_of_Physics. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jun Zhang, Ning Yang, Pamela K. Kreeger, Jacob Notbohm. Topological
defects in the mesothelium suppress ovarian cancer cell
clearance. APL Bioengineering, 2021; 5 (3): 036103 DOI:
10.1063/5.0047523 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210803121318.htm

--- up 12 weeks, 4 days, 22 hours, 45 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)