Tumor cell extravasation in an in vitro microvascular network platform

Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Chen, Michelle B. (Michelle Berkeley)
Other Authors: Roger D. Kamm.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/93857
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author Chen, Michelle B. (Michelle Berkeley)
author2 Roger D. Kamm.
author_facet Roger D. Kamm.
Chen, Michelle B. (Michelle Berkeley)
author_sort Chen, Michelle B. (Michelle Berkeley)
collection MIT
description Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014.
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spelling mit-1721.1/938572019-04-10T17:33:39Z Tumor cell extravasation in an in vitro microvascular network platform Chen, Michelle B. (Michelle Berkeley) Roger D. Kamm. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering. Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapter. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of tumor cell extravasation is essential in creating therapies that target this crucial step in cancer metastasis. Extravasation assays exist, but with limitations; data from in vivo models are frequently inferred from low-resolution end-point assays while most in vitro platforms are limited in their physiological relevance of the tumor microenvironment. To address this need, we developed a microfluidic platform to study tumor cell extravasation from in vitro microvascular networks formed via vasculogenesis. Various techniques to yield optimal networks were assessed in order to achieve an appropriate balance between vascular growth, remodeling and stabilization. These include the application of various soluble biochemical factors and both paracrine and juxtacrine co-culture with stromal cells. We demonstrate that out of all methods attempted, paracrine non-contact co-culture with human lung fibroblasts yield the most interconnected and stable networks. Vasculatures developed exhibit tight endothelial cell-cell junctions, basement membrane deposition and physiological values of vessel permeability. Employing our assay, we demonstrate impaired endothelial barrier function and increased extravasation efficiency with inflammatory cytokine stimulation, as well as positive correlations between the metastatic potentials of tumor cells lines and their extravasation capabilities. High-resolution time-lapse microscopy reveals the highly dynamic nature of extravasation events, beginning with thin tumor cell protrusions across the endothelium followed by extrusion of the remainder of the cell body through the formation of sub nuclear sized openings in the endothelial barrier. No disruption to endothelial cell-cell junctions is discernible at 60X, or by changes in local barrier function after completion of transmigration. Using our platform, we also elucidate the extravasation patterns of different tumor cell subpopulations, including mechanically lodged cells, single arrested non-trapped cells, and tumor cell clusters. Our platform offers key advantages over existing in vitro extravasation models by enabling all of the following: (1) high temporal and spatial resolution of extravasation events, (2) the ability to perform parametric studies in a tightly controlled and high throughput microenvironment and (3) increased physiological relevance compared to 2D and 3D planar monolayer models. Findings from our platform result in a deeper understanding of tumor cell extravasation mechanisms and demonstrate our assay's potential to be employed for the discovery of factors that could inhibit this crucial step in metastasis. by Michelle B. Chen. S.M. 2015-02-05T18:30:09Z 2015-02-05T18:30:09Z 2014 2014 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/93857 901512472 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 59 pages application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Mechanical Engineering.
Chen, Michelle B. (Michelle Berkeley)
Tumor cell extravasation in an in vitro microvascular network platform
title Tumor cell extravasation in an in vitro microvascular network platform
title_full Tumor cell extravasation in an in vitro microvascular network platform
title_fullStr Tumor cell extravasation in an in vitro microvascular network platform
title_full_unstemmed Tumor cell extravasation in an in vitro microvascular network platform
title_short Tumor cell extravasation in an in vitro microvascular network platform
title_sort tumor cell extravasation in an in vitro microvascular network platform
topic Mechanical Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/93857
work_keys_str_mv AT chenmichellebmichelleberkeley tumorcellextravasationinaninvitromicrovascularnetworkplatform