Development of a novel in vivo cancer model using cell sheet engineering

Abstract

Aim: Standard in vivo cancer models entail injecting single cancer cells, but this technique is not always successful. We developed a novel cancer cell sheet by using temperature-responsive polymer poly(N-isopropyl acryl amide)-coated plates, which allow controlled attachment and detachment of living cancer cells via simple temperature changes.

Materials and methods: Four human cancer cell lines were used to make cell sheets. The cancer cell sheets were subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice and compared regarding their tumor-forming ability with the conventional cell suspension technique.

Results: Human cancer cell sheets were successfully transplanted into nude mice. The cancer cell sheets resulted in stable engraftment and showed a higher tumor volume determined by total flux with the IVIS® imaging system.

Conclusion: Novel cancer cell sheets are useful tools to make in vivo cancer models in mice for the assessment of anticancer therapeutics.

Keywords: Cancer; cell sheet; mouse model; tissue engineering; transplantation.