Anti-cancer Drug Susceptibility of Breast Cancer Cells Incubated on Electrospun Polymeric Fiber Substrates

Abstract

In this study, we examined the effect of a combination of surface topographies (fiber alignments) and different stiffness of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) substrates on the direct relationship between anti-cancer drug (CDDP) sensitivity for MDA-MB-231 cells and mesenchymal properties under both normal and hypoxic conditions. In addition, we studied the induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). The CDDP treatment under hypoxia indicated poor adhesion of MDA-MB-231 cells as well as significant repression of E-cadherin (CDH1). The robust connection between drug sensitivity and repression of epithelial cell marker of E-cadherin (CDH1) mediated by substrate surface topography contributed to the anti-cancer drug resistance of MDA-MB-231 cells. PLLA substrates did not cause a significant change in the induction and acquisition of EMT, indicating that EMT exerted no effect on drug susceptibility.