Activated proteases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) secreted from cancer cells can degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) and contribute to tumour formation and metastasis. Measuring MMP activity in individual cancer cells can provide important insights on cancer cell heterogeneity and disease progression. Here, we present a microfluidic platform combining a droplet jetting generator and a deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) size-sorting channel that is capable of encapsulating individual cancer cells inside picoliter droplets effectively. Droplet jetting with cell-triggered Rayleigh-Plateau instability was employed which produced large droplets capable of cell encapsulation (diameter, ~25µm) and small empty droplets (diameter, ~14µm), which were then size-separated using a DLD size-sorting channel to enrich the single-cell encapsulated droplets (~78%), regardless of the cell density of input sample solutions. The droplets containing encapsulated cancer cells were collected in an observation chamber to determine the kinetic profiles of MMP secretion and the inhibitory response in the presence of the drug doxycycline at the single-cell level to reveal their heterogeneous MMPs secretion activities.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2014.11.001 | DOI Listing |
Int J Surg
January 2025
The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor that originates from the epithelial cells of the colon and rectum. Global epidemiological data shows that in 2020, the incidence and mortality rate of CRC ranked third and second, respectively, posing a serious threat to people's health and lives. The factors influencing CRC are numerous and can be broadly categorized as modifiable and non-modifiable based on whether they can be managed or intervened upon.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Surg
January 2025
Department of Anesthesiology, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital & Institute, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Oncology, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is critical in regulating the homeostasis of microglial cells. It activates various signaling pathways that mediate the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) at key regulatory sites. The decrease in phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) expression is linked to neuroinflammatory responses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Surg
January 2025
Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal diseases. Although several chemotherapy regimens have been developed over the past decades, few targeted therapies have shown a significant improvement in overall survival, partly due to the identification of PDAC as a single disease.
Methods: Combining metabolomic analysis and immunohistochemistry staining with Oil Red O staining, analysis for the oxygen consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate, we stratified pancreatic cancer cells into two subtypes.
Anticancer Drugs
January 2025
Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center.
In gastric cancer, the relationship between human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of the interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway, and autophagy remains unclear. This study examines whether HER2 regulates autophagy in gastric cancer cells via the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, influencing key processes such as cell proliferation and migration. Understanding this relationship could uncover new molecular targets for diagnosis and treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Cancer Res
January 2025
Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Qld, Australia.
Purpose: Receptor CUB-domain containing- protein 1 (CDCP1) was evaluated as a target for detection and treatment of breast cancer.
Experimental Design: CDCP1 expression was assessed immunohistochemically in tumors from 423 patients (119 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); 75 HER2+; 229 ER+/HER2- including 228 primary tumors, 229 lymph node and 47 distant metastases). Cell cytotoxicity induced in vitro by a CDCP1-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), consisting of the human/mouse chimeric antibody ch10D7 and the microtubule disruptor monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), was quantified, including in combination with HER2-targeting ADC T-DM1.
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