Interactions between cancer cells and their surrounding microenvironment is an important part of tumor development. A new study by researchers at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute demonstrates how single-cell bioprinting can be used to create spatially defined cellular microarrays that enable systematic studies of how the tumor microenvironment influences cancer progression. The study is published in the journal Biofabrication.
The interaction between cancer cells and their immediate surrounding environment is an important part of tumor development, with neighboring cells playing a key role in regulating disease-relevant behavior. While spatial biology studies have demonstrated how certain histological features are linked to particular disease outcomes, there is a lack of mechanistic understanding of the cell-level processes that drive disease development.
In their study, Helms and Bertassoni used the Biopixlar single-cell bioprinting platform to create detailed spatial arrays that recreate the tumor environment with micrometer-scale precision. Using the Biopixlar platform’s capacity for direct deposition of individual cells, the researchers were able to systematically control a wide range of parameters, including cell composition, spacing, density, and spatial arrangement.
To demonstrate their methodology, the researchers used breast cancer cells and patient-derived myoepithelial cells to create cell microenvironment models where with varying cancer cell density and spatial organization, making it possible to directly monitor how differences in microenvironment influence tumor-like behavior.
Using this methodology, Helms and Bertassoni show that local cancer cell density and spatial arrangement alone can alter migration dynamics and collective cell behavior in a way that is consistent with human tissue observations. These results demonstrate both the importance of considering tumor microenvironment when studying cancer development and the value of single-cell bioprinting for cancer research applications. By making it possible to tailor tissue composition on a cellular level, single-cell bioprinting enables a mechanistic approach to cancer research with the potential to unlock new insights into disease development and treatment.
We are proud that Helms and Bertassoni have chosen to use Fluicell’s Biopixlar system in their important research and are excited to follow their continued efforts to further develop our understanding of the underlying cellular mechanisms behind cancer.
Read the article Engineering programmable tumor microenvironment interactions through single-cell bioprinting of spatially defined cell microarrays on the Biofabrication website.