Abstract
Endogenous lipid synthesis is up-regulated in cancerous tissue. The role of lipids in oncogene regulation, cancer progression, and tumorigenesis is mostly unknown. It has been well-established that culturing cells in three-dimensions (3D) is a more accurate representation of solid tumors in vivo than traditional 2D cultures. 3D cell cultures (spheroids) replicate gas and nutrient diffusion, gene expression, protein concentrations, intracellular interactions, and cell–extracellular matrix connections observed in primary tumors. Herein, we describe a desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) method for mapping the spatial distribution of phospholipids (PL) in human breast cancer cell (BCC) spheroids (<1 mm in diameter). This label-free chemical imaging method identified specific PL species and relative percent compositions that may play a role in biological processes occurring at the outer (e.g. invasion and metastasis) and inner regions of solid breast tumors (e.g. angiogenesis). We also compare the PL composition of BCC spheroids with PL profiles of 2D BCC cultures, identifying PL changes specific to the multi-cellular environment of the spheroid.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Richard Perry
Project Type
Poster Presentation
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-5-2019 1:00 PM
End Date
4-5-2019 5:00 PM
Award: Honorable Mention, Poster Presentation
Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Human Breast Cancer Spheroids
Alvin Sherman Library
Endogenous lipid synthesis is up-regulated in cancerous tissue. The role of lipids in oncogene regulation, cancer progression, and tumorigenesis is mostly unknown. It has been well-established that culturing cells in three-dimensions (3D) is a more accurate representation of solid tumors in vivo than traditional 2D cultures. 3D cell cultures (spheroids) replicate gas and nutrient diffusion, gene expression, protein concentrations, intracellular interactions, and cell–extracellular matrix connections observed in primary tumors. Herein, we describe a desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) method for mapping the spatial distribution of phospholipids (PL) in human breast cancer cell (BCC) spheroids (<1 mm in>diameter). This label-free chemical imaging method identified specific PL species and relative percent compositions that may play a role in biological processes occurring at the outer (e.g. invasion and metastasis) and inner regions of solid breast tumors (e.g. angiogenesis). We also compare the PL composition of BCC spheroids with PL profiles of 2D BCC cultures, identifying PL changes specific to the multi-cellular environment of the spheroid.
