TNFα antagonization alters NOS2 dependent nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumor growth.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which mediates via nitric oxide (NO) several carcinogenic processes. Increasing evidences suggest that NO promotes inflammation induced growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In patients, TNFα synthesis associates with poor survival.

Combinative in vitro studies and computational model to predict 3D cell migration response to drug insult.

The development of drugs to counter diseases related to cell migration has resulted in a multi-billion dollar endeavor. Unfortunately, few drugs have emerged from this effort highlighting the need for new methods to enhance assays to study, analyze and control cell migration. In response to this complex process, computational models have emerged as potent tools to describe migration providing a high throughput and low cost method.

Alteration of cellular behavior and response to PI3K pathway inhibition by culture in 3D collagen gels.

Most investigations into cancer cell drug response are performed with cells cultured on flat (2D) tissue culture plastic. Emerging research has shown that the presence of a three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical for normal cell behavior including migration, adhesion, signaling, proliferation and apoptosis. In this study we investigate differences between cancer cell signaling in 2D culture and a 3D ECM, employing real-time, live cell tracking to directly observe U2OS human osteosarcoma and MCF7 human breast cancer cells embedded in type 1 collagen gels.

Quantitative analysis of the effect of cancer invasiveness and collagen concentration on 3D matrix remodeling.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is a key component of cell migration and tumor metastasis, and has been associated with cancer progression. Despite the importance of matrix remodeling, systematic and quantitative studies on the process have largely been lacking. Furthermore, it remains unclear if the disrupted tensional homeostasis characteristic of malignancy is due to initially altered ECM and tissue properties, or to the alteration of the tissue by tumor cells.