Establishment of a gastric cancer subline with high metastatic potential using a novel microfluidic system

Abstract

Metastasis is an important hallmark of malignant tumors. In this study, we developed a microfluidic system to screen highly metastatic sublines via differential resolution of cell invasiveness. The system was composed of a PDMS-glass device connected with a syringe pump and a Petri dish. To facilitate the selection process, a long-term cell invasion driving force based on a chemotactic factor gradient was created using the Petri dish-based liquid supply pattern, and the invasive cells were collected for round-by-round selection via an open region in the chip. Using the system, we established an SGC-7901/B2 subline from the human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell line by only two rounds of selection. In vitro assays showed that the SGC-7901/B2 cells were superior to the parental cells in proliferation and invasiveness. Furthermore, an in vivo tumorigenicity assay demonstrated that compared with the parental cells, the subline had stronger spontaneous metastatic and proliferative capability, which led to a shorter survival duration. Additionally, the protein expression differences including E-cadherin and Smad3 between the subline and parental cells were revealed. In conclusion, this microfluidic system is a highly effective tool for selecting highly metastatic sublines, and SGC-7901/B2 cells could serve as a potential model for tumor metastasis research.

miR-135a inhibits tumor metastasis and angiogenesis by targeting FAK pathway

“…Our previous study has confirmed gastric cancer cells that injected in the armpits has capability of spontaneous metastasis [ 19 ]. To determine the anti-tumor function of miR-135a, we inject control and miR-135a overexpressing cells into the bilateral axillary of BALB/c nude mice respectively.…”

Evolution of Metastasis Study Models toward Metastasis‐On‐A‐Chip: The Ultimate Model?

“…Recently, some metastasis‐on‐a‐chip (MoC) devices have been described for the analysis of these phenomena, which differ in the origin of the cancer cells, the architecture of the chip or the composition of the cellular microenvironment. [ 147,148 ] Some of these devices use SGC‐7901 human gastric cancer cells [ 149 ] or NPC‐BM1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cancer cells, [ 150 ] with high metastatic capacity to obtain representative results. In the first of these, a microfluidic system was developed to detect highly metastatic sublines through the differential resolution of cell invasion.…”

“…In conclusion, this microfluidic system proved to be a very effective tool for selecting highly metastatic sublines, and this SGC‐7901/B2 cell subline could serve as a potential model for tumor metastasis research. [ 149 ]…”

“…In conclusion, this microfluidic system proved to be a very effective tool for selecting highly metastatic sublines, and this SGC-7901/B2 cell subline could serve as a potential model for tumor metastasis research. [149] In the second one, the NPC-BM1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cancer model, a microfluidic device was generated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma that incorporated an impedance system for cell invasion quantitative measurement. The device consisted of two tanks that were connected to a microchannel filled with a hydrogel.…”