Metastatic Potential

Impedance Measurements

Given that the ECIS System easily detects alterations in the endothelial cell layer, these changes can be monitored to look for correlations between changes in impedance and the metastatic potential of cancer cells.

Experimental Example: The Dunning Prostatic Adenocarcinoma Series

Metastatic cell lines were added to a confluent HUVEC (Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells) cell layer, which resulted in a sig­nificant loss of resistance. This loss of resistance was due to the endothelial cell layer’s loss of integrity in response to the activities of the cancer cells. As a control, the same metastatic cells were heat killed (by keeping them 15 minutes at 56 °C) before adding them to another confluent HUVEC cell layer. No changes in resis­tance were detected in this instance, thus verifying that the assay was indeed perceiving biological activities.

Results:
Cell Line G – weakly metastatic
Cell Line AT3 – highly metastatic

For further information:
Keese CR, Bhawe K, Wegener J, Giaever I. Real-time impedance assay to follow the invasive activities of metastatic cells in culture. Biotechniques. 2002, 10.2144/02334rr01.
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Appropriate electrode arrays for the measurement of metastatic potential could be:

8 well format:

96 well format:

Optical Measurements

Cancer cells with a high metastatic potential are able to pass the endothelial cell barrier after reaching a blood or lymphatic vessel. This trans-endothelial migration allows them to enter the blood stream and be transported to distant locations in the body. Once in the blood flow, the metastatic cancer cells are exposed to new environmental conditions, like shear stress.

After adding metastatic cell lines to confluent cell layers, optical measurements under flow conditions are easily performed using any ibidi μ-Slide (e.g., μ-Slide I Luer) in conjunction with the ibidi Pump System.