Author/Editor		Zemljič Jokhadar, Špela; Kokot, Gašper; Pavlin, Mojca; Derganc, Jure
Title		Adhesion and stiffness of detached breast cancer cells in vitro
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		Letnik 10, št. 9
Publication year		2021
Volume		str. 1-15
ISSN		2079-7737 - Biology
Language		eng
Abstract		Metastatic cancer cells can overcome detachment-induced cell death and can proliferate in anchorage-independent conditions. A recent study revealed that a co-treatment with two drugs that interfere with cell metabolism, metformin and 2-deoxy-D-glucose, promotes detachment of viable MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. In the present study, we analyzed if these detached viable MDA-MB-231 cells also exhibit other features related to cancer metastatic potential, i.e., if they are softer and more prone to adhere to epithelial cells. The cell mechanics of attached cells and floating cells were analyzed by optical tweezers and cell deformability cytometry, respectively. The adhesion was assessed on a confluent monolayer of HUVEC cells, with MDA-MB-231 cells either in static conditions or in a microfluidic flow. Additionally, to test if adhesion was affected by the state of the epithelial glycocalyx, HUVEC cells were treated with neuraminidase and tunicamycin. It was found that the treated MDA-MB-231 cells were more prone to adhere to HUVEC cells and that they were softer than the control, both in the floating state and after re-seeding to a substrate. The changes in the HUVEC glycocalyx, however, did not increase the adhesion potential of MDA-MB-231.
Keywords		metastatic potential adhesion to epithelial cells optical tweezers metastatski potencial adhezija na epitelijske celice optične pincete