Analysis of the interplay between tumor spheroids and vascular sprouting (2013)

Undergraduate: Laura Hunter

Faculty Advisor: Victoria Bautch
Department: Applied Sciences

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Mature blood vessel networks are formed through angiogenic sprouting of endothelial cells from a pre-existing vascular plexus. Tumors can co-opt this process by releasing growth factors that cause blood vessels to grow toward and invade the tumor, giving the tumor nutrients for growth and the ability to metastasize. Existing in vitro models of tumor angiogenesis are largely in two dimensions or only account for tumor-endothelial interactions during cell-cell contact. The goal of my project is to develop a new protocol to analyze the interplay between tumors and vascular sprouting in three dimensions utilizing independently formed tumor and endothelial cell aggregates. Initial analysis with the sprouting angiogenesis model and the hanging drop method to generate mini-tumor spheroids showed endothelial cells sprouting away from tumor spheroids; therefore, further modifications to this protocol are required. Currently, I am analyzing the role of pericytes in my model to stabilize the sprouting endothelial cells and encourage endothelial-tumor interactions.