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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 2: Physics of Cancer

BP 2.3: Talk

Monday, March 7, 2016, 10:15–10:30, H43

Liquid-like and Solid-like Behaviour of Breast Cancer Cell Lines in 3D Aggregates — •Linda Oswald, Steffen Grosser, Steve Pawlizak, Anatol Fritsch, and Josef Käs — University of Leipzig, Institute of Experimental Physics I, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

Three-dimensional aggregates of biological cells become increasingly relevant in research as they resemble in vivo situations much closer than two-dimensional assays. These tissue models are usually described by viscous liquid theories on long time scales. Recent experiments on 3D segregation of breast cancer cell lines questioned this approach.

Based on this finding, we create aggregates of MCF-10A, MDA-MB-436, which form compact spheroids, and of MDA-MB-231 cells, forming loose aggregates only. We perform fusion experiments of the spheroids allowing to assess the ratio of tissue surface tension to viscosity. While MDA-MB-436 spheroids fuse mainly as expected from the viscous liquid theory, MCF-10A spheroids show a rich diversity in fusion behaviour, such as changing fusion speeds and complete fusion arrest accompanied by superficial morphological changes.