Focus: A physical sciences network characterization of non-tumorigenic and metastatic cells

To investigate the transition from non-cancerous to metastatic from a physical sciences perspective, the Physical Sciences-Oncology Centers (PS-OC) Network performed molecular and biophysical comparative studies of the non-tumorigenic MCF-10A and metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast epithelial cell lines, commonly used as models of cancer metastasis. Experiments were performed in 20 laboratories from 12 PS-OCs. Each laboratory was supplied with identical aliquots and common reagents and culture protocols. Analyses of these measurements revealed dramatic differences in their mechanics, migration, adhesion, oxygen response, and proteomic profiles. Model-based multi-omics approaches identified key differences between these cells' regulatory networks involved in morphology and survival. These results provide a multifaceted description of cellular parameters of two widely used cell lines and demonstrate the value of the PS-OC Network approach for integration of diverse experimental observations to elucidate the phenotypes associated with cancer metastasis.

Source: A physical sciences network characterization of non-tumorigenic and metastatic cells. Physical Sciences - Oncology Centers Network, Agus DB, Alexander JF, Arap W, Ashili S, Aslan JE, Austin RH, Backman V, Bethel KJ, Bonneau R, Chen WC, Chen-Tanyolac C, Choi NC, Curley SA, Dallas M, Damania D, Davies PC, Decuzzi P, Dickinson L, Estevez-Salmeron L, Estrella V, Ferrari M, Fischbach C, Foo J, Fraley SI, Frantz C, Fuhrmann A, Gascard P, Gatenby RA, Geng Y, Gerecht S, Gillies RJ, Godin B, Grady WM, Greenfield A, Hemphill C, Hempstead BL, Hielscher A, Hillis WD, Holland EC, Ibrahim-Hashim A, Jacks T, Johnson RH, Joo A, Katz JE, Kelbauskas L, Kesselman C, King MR, Konstantopoulos K, Kraning-Rush CM, Kuhn P, Kung K, Kwee B, Lakins JN, Lambert G, Liao D, Licht JD, Liphardt JT, Liu L, Lloyd MC, Lyubimova A, Mallick P, Marko J, McCarty OJ, Meldrum DR, Michor F, Mumenthaler SM, Nandakumar V, O'Halloran TV, Oh S, Pasqualini R, Paszek MJ, Philips KG, Poultney CS, Rana K, Reinhart-King CA, Ros R, Semenza GL, Senechal P, Shuler ML, Srinivasan S, Staunton JR, Stypula Y, Subramanian H, Tlsty TD, Tormoen GW, Tseng Y, van Oudenaarden A, Verbridge SS, Wan JC, Weaver VM, Widom J, Will C, Wirtz D, Wojtkowiak J, Wu PH. Sci Rep. 2013 Apr 25;3:1449.

Free paper available at:

http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130422/srep01449/full/srep01449.html