PLoS ONE：新型3D模型助力癌症研究

    近日，刊登在国际杂志PLoS One上的一项研究揭示了一种新型技术，其可以通过在三维角度植入肺癌细胞来帮助科学家快速发现特定的癌症病灶。这种新型的3D模型由美以美医院等处的研究者开发。研究者表示，我们设计的3D模型在肺癌研究中很多方面优于2D模型。

    新型的肺癌研究模型对于研究者来说非常重要，因为当前的模型并不能加速人类的疾病试验。新型模型使用了鼠的肺部基质，其随后可以融合入人类的肺癌细胞中，肺癌细胞可以吸附基质，并且使其获得足够的营养物质。

    3D模型允许肺癌组织形成根瘤，这种根瘤在癌症生长和转移过程中扮演着重要角色，同时3D模型也可以产生更多的基质金属蛋白酶，其对于维持肺癌细胞生长至关重要。

    最后研究者Kim说，我们实验室目前正在开发新型的针对肺癌的3D模型，希望更好地理解癌症转移发生的分子机制。

编译自：3-D Model for Lung Cancer Mimics the Real Thing

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045308
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Human Lung Cancer Cells Grown in an Ex Vivo 3D Lung Model Produce Matrix Metalloproteinases Not Produced in 2D Culture

Dhruva K. Mishra1, Jason H. Sakamoto2, Michael J. Thrall3, Brandi N. Baird4, Shanda H. Blackmon1,5, Mauro Ferrari2, Jonathan M. Kurie4, Min P. Kim1,5*

We compared the growth of human lung cancer cells in an ex vivo three-dimensional (3D) lung model and 2D culture to determine which better mimics lung cancer growth in patients. A549 cells were grown in an ex vivo 3D lung model and in 2D culture for 15 days. We measured the size and formation of tumor nodules and counted the cells after 15 days. We also stained the tissue/cells for Ki-67, and Caspase-3. We measured matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels in the conditioned media and in blood plasma from patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung. Organized tumor nodules with intact vascular space formed in the ex vivo 3D lung model but not in 2D culture. Proliferation and apoptosis were greater in the ex vivo 3D lung model compared to the 2D culture. After 15 days, there were significantly more cells in the 2D culture than the 3D model. MMP-1, MMP-9, and MMP-10 production were significantly greater in the ex vivo 3D lung model. There was no production of MMP-9 in the 2D culture. The patient samples contained MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-10. The human lung cancer cells grown on ex vivo 3D model form perfusable nodules that grow over time. It also produced MMPs that were not produced in 2D culture but seen in human lung cancer patients. The ex vivo 3D lung model may more closely mimic the biology of human lung cancer development than the 2D culture.

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