Presentation: 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual conference
October 21, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo, North Dakota
Recapitulating Cancer Metastasis in Robust In Vitro Testbeds
Kalpana
Katti
University Distinguished Professor
North Dakota State University
Co authors: Dinesh R. Katti, Professor, North Dakota State University, Quyen Hoang, Grad student, North Dakota State University, Preetham Ravi, Grad Student, North Dakota State University, Shrinwanti Ghosh, Grad Student, North Dakota State University, Kalidas Shetti, Professor,North Dakota State University, Jiha Kim, Associate Professor, North Dakota State University, Parth Vyas, Orthopaedic Surgery, Sanford Health, Anu Gaba, Oncology, Sanford Health
Session
Concurrent Presentation Session B, Group 1
Prairie Rose Room
Prostate cancer and breast cancer both have a propensity to metastasize to bone, at which point the cancer is incurable. We have developed a comprehensive study that recapitulates the tumor microenvironment at the bone site, the movement of the cancer cells and clusters to the bone site. This study involves the design of a testbed approach using tissue-engineered nanoclay polymer composite scaffolds and a novel fluid flow-enabled bioreactor that simulates the effect of fluid-derived shear forces on cancer cells. In addition, the tumor microenvironment is created using cocultures of patient-derived cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts, as well as additional specific cells of human origin. Tumor morphology, growth, and efficacy of drugs are tested in the bioreactor-enabled testbed that has inlets and ports for specimen retrieval and drug injections. We also analyze various mechanistic analyses, including apoptosis assays, reactive oxygen species analysis, RT-qPCR, and immunofluorescence staining. We also report the mechanistic evaluation of the efficacy of novel specialty crop extracts from rhodiola, oregano, and cranberry related to the phytochemicals present in these crops. The testbed approach is also used to discover spectroscopic (IR and RAMAN) and nanomechanical markers of metastasis progression. Overall, we demonstrate the use of the fluid flow-enabled testbed approach, utilizing a 3D nanoclay-based scaffold, to recapitulate bone metastatic tumor microenvironments as next-generation tools for developing cancer metastasis therapies.