Abstract
Glioblastoma is considered the most aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer. Glioblastoma tumours are complex, comprising a spectrum of oncogenically transformed cells displaying distinct phenotypes. These can be generated in culture and are called differentiated-glioblastoma cells and glioblastoma stem cells. These cells are phenotypically and functionally distinct, where the stem-like glioblastoma cells give rise to and perpetuate the tumour. Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) is a real-time, label-free, impedance-based method for the analysis of cellular behaviour, based on cellular adhesion. Therefore, we asked the question of whether ECIS was suitable for, and capable of measuring the adhesion of glioblastoma cells. The goal was to identify whether ECIS was capable of measuring glioblastoma cell adhesion, with a particular focus on the glioblastoma stem cells. We reveal that ECIS reliably measures adhesion of the differentiated glioblastoma cells on various array types. We also demonstrate the ability of ECIS to measure the migratory behaviour of differentiated glioblastoma cells onto ECIS electrodes post-ablation. Although the glioblastoma stem cells are adherent, ECIS is substantially less capable at reliably measuring their adhesion, compared with the differentiated counterparts. This means that ECIS has applicability for some glioblastoma cultures but much less utility for weakly adherent stem cell counterparts.
Highlights
Glioblastoma is one of the most devastating forms of brain cancer, owing to the lack of treatment options, complexity of the tumour locations restricting surgical options, and the dismal survival statistics [1]
Glioblastoma tumours are highly heterogeneous [2,3], and comprise transformed cells driven by oncogenic mutations, which exist in a range of different phenotypic and functional forms [4]
Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) technology offers an impedance-based solution with real-time autonomous capability [7,8]
Summary
Glioblastoma is one of the most devastating forms of brain cancer, owing to the lack of treatment options, complexity of the tumour locations restricting surgical options, and the dismal survival statistics [1]. Glioblastoma tumours are highly heterogeneous [2,3], and comprise transformed cells driven by oncogenic mutations, which exist in a range of different phenotypic and functional forms [4]. In addition to these cancer cells, this brain tumour contains a variety of cells including myeloid derived suppressor cells, regulatory T cells, and aberrant vascular beds [2,4]. Achievable [5] as it always relapses This implies that there are niches of tumour stem-like cells that exist beyond the surgical boundaries [4,6]. ECIS technology offers an impedance-based solution with real-time autonomous capability [7,8]
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