The matrix-dependent 3D spheroid model of the migration of non-small cell lung cancer: a step towards a rapid automated screening

Research Overview

Multicellular tumor spheroids are staples of translational oncology for studying migration and personalizing therapy, but the earliest stages of cell migration out of a spheroid — and cross-talk between neighboring spheroids — have been overlooked. This study tracked migration from A549 non-small cell lung cancer spheroids cultured on collagen gel versus plastic over time.

Migration began 4–16 hours after seeding, at a speed that depended on the substrate. Co-culturing two spheroids on collagen gel — but not on plastic — facilitated migration compared with a single spheroid, a spheroid-to-spheroid effect that should inform the design of spheroid-based functional assays for personalized therapy.