Quantitative Comparison of Metastasizing and Non-metastasizing Breast Cancer Cell Migration via Various Dimension Microchannels

摘要

As many as 90% of cancer related deaths are due to the metastasis of primary tumor cells. With breast cancer being the second most diagnosed cancer as well as the leading cause of death in women, an understanding of the differences between metastasizing and non-metastasizing breast cancer is critical. We explored the outcome of metastasizing (MB-231) and non-metastasizing (MCF-7) breast cancer being cultured on collagen, the most abundant protein in the extracellular matrix of the breast tissue. We also conducted studies on the migratory patterns of MB-231 and MCF-7 through different sized microchannels (3, 5, 8, 10, 15 and 20μm). Finally, analysis of the drug Paclitaxel (Taxol) was done where the effect of the drug on breast cancer cells was quantified for various dimension microchannels and drug concentrations (0-20μM). For all of the experiments, Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microchannel devices were used. For the migration study, the device used had a cell seeding reservoir connected to six surrounding satellite reservoirs by different width microchannels (Flower microchannel device). For the drug study, the device had one cell seeding side connected to one reservoir by microchannels of either 5 by 5um or 15 by 15um (width by height). The purpose of using those devices was so that we could control the polarity of the migrating cells and follow specific cells throughout their migration process.