Growth and Invasion of 3D Spheroid Tumor of HeLa and CasKi Cervical Cancer Cells

Abstract

Spheroids are generally self-assembled cells with the ability to generate their extracellular matrix, including the complex cell-matrix and the cell-cell interactions that resemble the functional characteristics of the corresponding tissue in vivo. The study aimed to develop a three-dimensional (3D) spheroid system for the cervical cancer cell lines, HeLa (HPV18), CaSki (HPV16), SiHa (HPV16), C33A (non-HPV), HT3 (non-HPV) as well as to identify its biological activity in the extracellular form. For the formation of the cervical cancer spheroids, the liquid overlay approach was applied, followed by embedding to the bovine collagen I matrix. Spheroid formation using the liquid overlay approach is achieved by growing the cells on a non-adhesive surface to prevent cellular adhesion, resulting in the cells forming aggregates and, subsequently, the spheroids. The obtained data shows the definite biological behavior of each of the particular cervical cancer cell lines, indicating that cells adapt their natural phenotype in a three-dimensional microenvironment.