Login to Access Video or Poster Abstract: MP48-06
Sources of Funding: Bladder cancer Canada/CUOG

Introduction

Our understanding of the biological processes involved in bladder cancer (BCa) is greatly limited by the models currently available. In fact, the combination of in vitro and in vivo models of BCa has failed to elucidate all the fundamental aspects of the disease. The eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Western societies, BCa has become a growing public health concern, and more realistic models are needed to reveal the mechanisms involved in tumor initiation and progression.

Methods

Bladder substitutes have been constructed by tissue engineering with healthy human fibroblasts and urothelial cells, using the self-assembly method. Meanwhile, spheroids have been produced from non-invasive (RT4) and invasive (T24) BCa cell lines expressing DsRed fluorescent protein. The invasive potential of these spheroids was characterized in a type-I collagen gel (2.5mg/mL). Then, the spheroids were implanted on the surface of bladder substitutes, after which their development was followed by fluorescence microscopy.

Results

Both of the cancer cell lines used were able to form compact spheroids and grow on bladder equivalents. The invasive behaviour of spheroids varied depending on the nature of the cells used. The non-invasive RT4 cell line was unable to cross the basal lamina whereas the invasive T24 cell line was able to do so.

Conclusions

The establishment of such a model for studying cancer biology in a physiological environment will help bridge the gap between overly simple cell culture models and more complex transgenic mice models. This new model offers a unique opportunity to study separately the players involved in the development of BCa and thus represents a powerful tool for the mechanistic analysis of this complex pathology.

Funding

Bladder cancer Canada/CUOG