Adhesion and stiffness of detached breast cancer cells in vitro : co-treatment with metformin and 2-deoxy-D-glucose induces changes related to increased metastatic potential

Zemljič Jokhadar, Špela (author), Kokot, Gašper (author), Pavlin, Mojca (author), Derganc, Jure (author)

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.

• Language: English
• Keywords: metastatic potential, adhesion to epithelial cells, optical tweezers, cell deformability cytometry
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine; FE - Faculty of Electrical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 15 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 10, iss. 9, art. 873
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-136166
• UDC: 616-006
• ISSN on article: 2079-7737
• DOI: 10.3390/biology10090873
• COBISS.SI-ID: 87303939
• Publication date in RUL: 14.04.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Biology
• Shortened title: Biology
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2079-7737
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523004441

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 04.09.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: metastatski potencial, adhezija na epitelijske celice, optične pincete

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P1-0055
• Name: Biofizika polimerov, membran, gelov, koloidov in celic

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: J3-6794
• Name: Celična energijska presnova kot tarča za zdravljenje raka – genski in farmakološki pristop