Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Responses in a 3D in Vitro Tumor Angiogenesis Model Correlate with Metastatic Capacity.

Many tools from the field of tissue engineering can be used to develop novel model systems to study cancer. We have utilized biomimetic synthetic hydrogels, based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) modified with cell adhesive peptides (RGDS) and peptides sensitive to degradation by matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (GGGPQGIWGQGK), as highly controlled 3D substrates for cell culture. We have previously shown that this hydrogel can support growth of tumor cells and also growth and assembly of microvascular networks.

A 3D Poly(ethylene glycol)-based Tumor Angiogenesis Model to Study the Influence of Vascular Cells on Lung Tumor Cell Behavior.

Tumor angiogenesis is critical to tumor growth and metastasis, yet much is unknown about the role vascular cells play in the tumor microenvironment. In vitro models that mimic in vivo tumor neovascularization facilitate exploration of this role. Here we investigated lung adenocarcinoma cancer cells (344SQ) and endothelial and pericyte vascular cells encapsulated in cell-adhesive, proteolytically-degradable poly(ethylene) glycol-based hydrogels.

Studying the influence of angiogenesis in in vitro cancer model systems.

Tumor angiogenesis is a hallmark of cancer that has been identified as a critical component of cancer progression, facilitating rapid tumor growth and metastasis. Anti-angiogenic therapies have exhibited only modest clinical success, highlighting a need for better models that can be used to gain a more thorough understanding of tumor angiogenesis and screen potential therapeutics more accurately. This review explores how recent progress in in vitro cancer and vascular models individually can be applied to the development of in vitro tumor angiogenesis models.

A synthetic matrix with independently tunable biochemistry and mechanical properties to study epithelial morphogenesis and EMT in a lung adenocarcinoma model.

Better understanding of the biophysical and biochemical cues of the tumor extracellular matrix environment that influence metastasis may have important implications for new cancer therapeutics. Initial exploration into this question has used naturally derived protein matrices that suffer from variability, poor control over matrix biochemistry, and inability to modify the matrix biochemistry and mechanics. Here, we report the use of a synthetic polymer-based scaffold composed primarily of poly(ethylene glycol), or PEG, modified with bioactive peptides to study murine models of lung adenocarcinoma.