Tumor-environment biomimetics delay peritoneal metastasis formation by deceiving and redirecting disseminated cancer cells
By Elly De Vlieghere and F
Published in Biomaterials
2015
Abstract
Peritoneal metastasis is life threatening and is the result of an extensive communication between disseminated cancer cells, mesothelial cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). \CAFs\ secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins creating a receptive environment for peritoneal implantation. Considering cancer as an ecosystem may provide opportunities to exploit \CAFs\ to create biomimetic traps to deceive and redirect cancer cells. We have designed microparticles (MP) containing a CAF-derived ECM-surface that is intended to compete with natural niches. \CAFs\ were encapsulated in alginate/gelatine beads (500