Effect of Weightlessness on the 3D Structure Formation and Physiologic Function of Human Cancer Cells

Table 1

Publications (1997-2018) describing 3D spheroid formation and the alteration of morphology and function of human cancer cells under real and simulated microgravity.

Samples(cell line)	Exposure Devices	Speed (RPM^1)	Exposure time	Major result	Ref.
Colorectal cancer
MIP-101	r-μg / Two Spaceflights	—	10 d and 12 d	Proliferation and apoptosis decreased	[19]
DLD1,HCT116,SW620	s-μg / RCCS-HARV	10	48 h	Cell clumping and apoptosis increased	[20]
DLD1	s-μg / RCCS-HARV	27	72 h	Cell cycle arrested	[21]
Lung cancer
A549,H1703	s-μg / 3D clinostat system	5	36 h	Proliferation rates decreased in H1703; while migration ability increased in both	[22]
H460	s-μg / RPM^2	—	48 h	Apoptosis increased	[23]
A549	s-μg / MG-3 clinostat system	30	72 h	Metastatic potential,proliferation,while migration and invasion reduced	[24]
Throid cancer
ML-1	s-μg / RPM^2	10	72 h	IF, ECM and apoptosis increased	[25]
ML-1	r-μg / PFC	—	22 s	F-actin/cytokeratin cytoskeleton altered, no signs of apoptosis	[26]
ML-1	s-μg / RPM^2	—	72 h	3D spheroid formation, ECM increased	[27]
ML-1	s-μg / RPM^2	10	7 d	3D spheroid formation	[28]
ML-1	s-μg / RPM^2	10	11 d	actin and tubulin altered	[29]
UCLA RO82-W-1	s-μg / RPM^2	10	24 h	3D spheroid formation, ECM increased	[30]
UCLA RO82-W-1	s-μg / RPM^2	10	7 d	3D spheroid formation	[28]
FTC-133	r-μg / Shenzhou-8 space mission	—	10 d	3D spheroid formation	[31]
FTC-133	r-μg / International Space Station	—	12 d	Enhanced production of proteins related to the ECM	[32]
FTC-133	r-μg / TEXUS-52	—	369 s	Significant alterations of the cytoskeleton	[33]
FTC-133	s-μg / 2D clinostat	60	3 d	3D spheroid formation, CAV1 and CTGF decreased in spheroids	[34]
FTC-133	s-μg / RPM^2	10	3 d	3D spheroid formation, CAV1 and CTGF decreased in spheroids	[34]
FTC-133	s-μg / RPM^2	10	24 h	3D spheroid formation, apoptosis increased, CTGF decreased in spheroids	[35]
ONCO-DG1	s-μg / Clinorotation	10	24 h	Cell clumping and apoptosis increased	[36]
Breast cancer
MCF-7	r-μg / Spaceflight	—	48 h	Cytokeratin network were looser, cell cycle arrested and proliferation decreased	[37]
MCF-7	r-μg / Spaceflight	—	48 h	Cytoskeleton changes, cell cycle prolonged	[38]
MCF-7	s-μg / RPM^2	12.5	24 h	3D spheroid formation, apoptosis-related proteins increased	[39]
MDA-MB-231,MCF-7	s-μg / RCCS	20-25	5 d	Cyclin D1 decreased	[40]
MDA-MB-231	s-μg / RPM^2	10	72 h	G2/M inibited and cyclin D1 decreased	[41]
MCF-7	s-μg / MG-6C clinostat system	30	72 h	Cell invasion and migration decreased,	[42]
MCF-7	s-μg / RPM^2	—	48 h	Proliferation decreased, while apoptosis-related proteins increased	[43]
Other cancer
SGC-7901 gastric cancer	s-μg / MG-3 clinostat system	30	72 h	Proliferation and apoptosis decreased	[44]
U251 glioma	s-μg / 2D clinostat system	—	72 h	Proliferation and apoptosis decreased	[45]
Multiple human tumor	s-μg / RCCS-HARV	25	7 d	Spheroid formation	[46]

Table 1. d, day; h, hour; s, second; RPM¹, rounds per minute; PFC, parabolic flight campaign; r-μg, real microgravity; s-μg, simulated microgravity; RCCS-HARV: Rotational Cell Culture System-High Aspect Ratio Vessel; RCCS: Rotational Cell Culture System; RPM²: Random Positioning Machine.