University of Oulu

Salo T, Dourado MR, Sundquist E, Apu EH, Alahuhta I, Tuomainen K Vasara J, Al-Samadi A. 2017 Organotypic threedimensional assays based on human leiomyoma–derived matrices. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 373: 20160482.

Organotypic three-dimensional assays based on human leiomyoma–derived matrices

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Author: Salo, Tuula1,2,3,4,5; Rocha Dourado, Mauricio1,2,5; Sundquist, Elias1,2;
Organizations: 1Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu 90014, Finland
2Medical Research Centre, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
3Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 0014, Finland
4Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki 0014, Finland
5Department of Oral Diagnosis, Oral Pathology Division, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Campinas 13414-903, Brazil
Format: article
Version: published version
Access: open
Online Access: PDF Full Text (PDF, 1.2 MB)
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Language: English
Published: Royal Society Publishing, 2017
Publish Date: 2017-11-29


Alongside cancer cells, tumours exhibit a complex stroma containing a repertoire of cells, matrix molecules and soluble factors that actively crosstalk between each other. Recognition of this multifaceted concept of the tumour microenvironment (TME) calls for authentic TME mimetics to study cancer in vitro. Traditionally, tumourigenesis has been investigated in non-human, three-dimensional rat type I collagen containing organotypic discs or by means of mouse sarcoma-derived gel, such as Matrigel®. However, the molecular compositions of these simplified assays do not properly simulate human TME. Here, we review the main properties and benefits of using human leiomyoma discs and their matrix Myogel for in vitro assays. Myoma discs are practical for investigating the invasion of cancer cells, as are cocultures of cancer and stromal cells in a stiff, hypoxic TME mimetic. Myoma discs contain soluble factors and matrix molecules commonly present in neoplastic stroma. In Transwell, IncuCyte, spheroid and sandwich assays, cancer cells move faster and form larger colonies in Myogel than in Matrigel®. Additionally, Myogel can replace Matrigel® in hanging-drop and tubeformation assays. Myogel also suits three-dimensional drug testing and extracellular vesicle interactions. To conclude, we describe the application of our myoma-derived matrices in 3D in vitro cancer assays.

This article is part of the discussion meeting issue ‘Extracellular vesicles and the tumour microenvironment’.

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Series: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences
ISSN: 0962-8436
ISSN-E: 1471-2970
ISSN-L: 0962-8436
Volume: 373
Article number: 20160482
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0482
Type of Publication: A2 Review article in a scientific journal
Field of Science: 3122 Cancers
Funding: This study was supported by the TEKES TUTLI grant, The Finnish Cancer Society, Oulu University Hospital MRC grant and the Sigrid Juselius Foundation.