Mechanical Signals Inhibit Growth of a Grafted Tumor In Vivo: Proof of Concept.

In the past ten years, many studies have shown that malignant tissue has been "normalized" in vitro using mechanical signals. We apply the principles of physical oncology (or mechanobiology) in vivo to show the effect of a "constraint field" on tumor growth. The human breast canc...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rémy Brossel, Alexandre Yahi, Stéphane David, Laura Moreno Velasquez, Jean-Marc Guinebretière
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2016-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4839666?pdf=render
_version_ 1818133257930145792
author Rémy Brossel
Alexandre Yahi
Stéphane David
Laura Moreno Velasquez
Jean-Marc Guinebretière
author_facet Rémy Brossel
Alexandre Yahi
Stéphane David
Laura Moreno Velasquez
Jean-Marc Guinebretière
author_sort Rémy Brossel
collection DOAJ
description In the past ten years, many studies have shown that malignant tissue has been "normalized" in vitro using mechanical signals. We apply the principles of physical oncology (or mechanobiology) in vivo to show the effect of a "constraint field" on tumor growth. The human breast cancer cell line, MDA MB 231, admixed with ferric nanoparticles was grafted subcutaneously in Nude mice. The magnetizable particles rapidly surrounded the growing tumor. Two permanent magnets located on either side of the tumor created a gradient of magnetic field. Magnetic energy is transformed into mechanical energy by the particles acting as "bioactuators", applying a constraint field and, by consequence, biomechanical stress to the tumor. This biomechanical treatment was applied 2 hours/day during 21 days, from Day 18 to Day 39 following tumor implantation. The study lasted 74 days. Palpable tumor was measured two times a week. There was a significant in vivo difference between the median volume of treated tumors and untreated controls in the mice measured up to D 74 (D 59 + population): (529 [346; 966] mm3 vs 1334 [256; 2106] mm3; p = 0.015), treated mice having smaller tumors. The difference was not statistically significant in the group of mice measured at least to D 59 (D 59 population). On ex vivo examination, the surface of the tumor mass, measured on histologic sections, was less in the treated group, G1, than in the control groups: G2 (nanoparticles, no magnetic field), G3 (magnetic field, no nanoparticles), G4 (no nanoparticles, no magnetic field) in the D 59 population (Median left surface was significantly lower in G1 (5.6 [3.0; 42.4] mm2, p = 0.005) than in G2 (20.8 [4.9; 34.3]), G3 (16.5 [13.2; 23.2]) and G4 (14.8 [1.8; 55.5]); Median right surface was significantly lower in G1 (4.7 [1.9; 29.2] mm2, p = 0.015) than in G2 (25.0 [5.2; 55.0]), G3 (18.0 [14.6; 35.2]) and G4 (12.5 [1.5; 51.8]). There was no statistically significant difference in the day 59+ population. This is the first demonstration of the effect of stress on tumor growth in vivo suggesting that biomechanical intervention may have a high translational potential as a therapy in locally advanced tumors like pancreatic cancer or primary hepatic carcinoma for which no effective therapy is currently available.
first_indexed 2024-12-11T08:49:51Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e1b9eb779d3441c78661faaa6e2e4b1b
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T08:49:51Z
publishDate 2016-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-e1b9eb779d3441c78661faaa6e2e4b1b2022-12-22T01:14:03ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-01114e015288510.1371/journal.pone.0152885Mechanical Signals Inhibit Growth of a Grafted Tumor In Vivo: Proof of Concept.Rémy BrosselAlexandre YahiStéphane DavidLaura Moreno VelasquezJean-Marc GuinebretièreIn the past ten years, many studies have shown that malignant tissue has been "normalized" in vitro using mechanical signals. We apply the principles of physical oncology (or mechanobiology) in vivo to show the effect of a "constraint field" on tumor growth. The human breast cancer cell line, MDA MB 231, admixed with ferric nanoparticles was grafted subcutaneously in Nude mice. The magnetizable particles rapidly surrounded the growing tumor. Two permanent magnets located on either side of the tumor created a gradient of magnetic field. Magnetic energy is transformed into mechanical energy by the particles acting as "bioactuators", applying a constraint field and, by consequence, biomechanical stress to the tumor. This biomechanical treatment was applied 2 hours/day during 21 days, from Day 18 to Day 39 following tumor implantation. The study lasted 74 days. Palpable tumor was measured two times a week. There was a significant in vivo difference between the median volume of treated tumors and untreated controls in the mice measured up to D 74 (D 59 + population): (529 [346; 966] mm3 vs 1334 [256; 2106] mm3; p = 0.015), treated mice having smaller tumors. The difference was not statistically significant in the group of mice measured at least to D 59 (D 59 population). On ex vivo examination, the surface of the tumor mass, measured on histologic sections, was less in the treated group, G1, than in the control groups: G2 (nanoparticles, no magnetic field), G3 (magnetic field, no nanoparticles), G4 (no nanoparticles, no magnetic field) in the D 59 population (Median left surface was significantly lower in G1 (5.6 [3.0; 42.4] mm2, p = 0.005) than in G2 (20.8 [4.9; 34.3]), G3 (16.5 [13.2; 23.2]) and G4 (14.8 [1.8; 55.5]); Median right surface was significantly lower in G1 (4.7 [1.9; 29.2] mm2, p = 0.015) than in G2 (25.0 [5.2; 55.0]), G3 (18.0 [14.6; 35.2]) and G4 (12.5 [1.5; 51.8]). There was no statistically significant difference in the day 59+ population. This is the first demonstration of the effect of stress on tumor growth in vivo suggesting that biomechanical intervention may have a high translational potential as a therapy in locally advanced tumors like pancreatic cancer or primary hepatic carcinoma for which no effective therapy is currently available.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4839666?pdf=render
spellingShingle Rémy Brossel
Alexandre Yahi
Stéphane David
Laura Moreno Velasquez
Jean-Marc Guinebretière
Mechanical Signals Inhibit Growth of a Grafted Tumor In Vivo: Proof of Concept.
PLoS ONE
title Mechanical Signals Inhibit Growth of a Grafted Tumor In Vivo: Proof of Concept.
title_full Mechanical Signals Inhibit Growth of a Grafted Tumor In Vivo: Proof of Concept.
title_fullStr Mechanical Signals Inhibit Growth of a Grafted Tumor In Vivo: Proof of Concept.
title_full_unstemmed Mechanical Signals Inhibit Growth of a Grafted Tumor In Vivo: Proof of Concept.
title_short Mechanical Signals Inhibit Growth of a Grafted Tumor In Vivo: Proof of Concept.
title_sort mechanical signals inhibit growth of a grafted tumor in vivo proof of concept
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4839666?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT remybrossel mechanicalsignalsinhibitgrowthofagraftedtumorinvivoproofofconcept
AT alexandreyahi mechanicalsignalsinhibitgrowthofagraftedtumorinvivoproofofconcept
AT stephanedavid mechanicalsignalsinhibitgrowthofagraftedtumorinvivoproofofconcept
AT lauramorenovelasquez mechanicalsignalsinhibitgrowthofagraftedtumorinvivoproofofconcept
AT jeanmarcguinebretiere mechanicalsignalsinhibitgrowthofagraftedtumorinvivoproofofconcept