Blogging Heros
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and top of the list of cancers that affect women. Yet, breast cancer also affects men, so everyone must know the early signs and access early diagnosis and treatment. We must continue developing and supporting mechanisms to understand how cancer develops and mutates to advance treatment to enhance our ability to combat and prevent breast cancer.
Breast cancer tumour microenvironments are composed of structural components, one of which is the extracellular matrix. Cancer is a widely researched and tested area of medicine to understand how tumours function and the diverse mixture of cells that develop over time. Research continues to reduce chemoresistance and understand how some tumours are self-renewing and can induce further tumours. Research and development into the function of ECM and associated functions must use the advances in scaffold and cell culture techniques to identify drug targets and therapies.
Manchester BIOGEL is one of the leading producers of chemically defined peptide hydrogels specifically designed for bioprinting, tissue regeneration, and drug discovery for 2D and 3D cell culture exploration, used worldwide by scientists and laboratories to provide scaffold platforms for breast cancer research. Here, we ask how the ECM allows us to learn more about this specific cancer.
Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
The extracellular matrix fibrous proteins are most often collagen-based. Collagen has a significant role in tissue development as it provides mechanical strength and can alter cell adhesion and promote cell migration. Glycoproteins within collagen assist the ECM by encouraging cells to link together to become a more cohesive molecule network. This environment enables tumours to develop, multiply and transfer through the lymphatic system.
The in vivo environment and ECM
The majority of cell-based assays have been based on two dimensional (2D) monolayer cells cultured on rigid and flat substrates until the development of synthetic peptide hydrogels. This limited capability has restrictions that benefit from examining and developing cells using the extracellular matrix in a three-dimensional way. The ability to research and develop therapies based on 3D cellular interaction considers the natural 3D environment of the cancer cells and neighbouring cells more accurately. It can provide a more natural result that accurately represents the in vivo cellular responses akin to human breast tissue and cancerous cell development.
Scaffold importance in cell behaviour
The scaffolded environment provided for cells within research is of significant importance as it directly affects results that determine cancer progression and drug resistance. To produce results that accurately represent the processes that occur within the human body, it is essential to match the stiffness of the scaffold closely to the tissue type and ensure the in vivo environment is entirely representative.
Choosing the most appropriate ECM product should ensure that mechanical and chemical functionality is best able to closely mimic the native cellular microenvironment relative to the tissue and cell type involved. When synthetic peptide hydrogels are selected, they have a greater ability to be modified and controlled independently for charge, stiffness and functionality, to replicate the area of human tissue more closely more readily. Chemically defined peptide hydrogels are supplied ready to use and require no preparation or special storage. They can be used at room temperature with inks and gels that are fully optimised for both mechanical and chemical functionality for scaffold and 3D bioprinting. They now provide the most versatile and innovative development for targeted therapy and disease development researchers.
The way forward
Recent research has demonstrated the ability of PeptiGel Alpha1 SAPH to grow and expand two epithelial breast cancer cell lines to represent tumours at varying developmental stages. Synthetic hydrogels are now showing their ability to be adapted to offer choices suited to study early breast cancer stages and suitability for developing in vitro models and cell growth scaffolds in widespread diseases. They are a cost-effective, easily reproducible and accurate way forward.
