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Microplastics and cancer progression: A comparative study of 2D and 3D gastric cancer models using ISO Compliant protocols
Summary
Researchers developed standardized methods based on ISO protocols to test how microplastic exposure affects gastric cancer cells in both traditional flat cell cultures and three-dimensional tumor models. They found that polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics increased cancer cell growth in both model types, though the particles did not directly penetrate the 3D tumor structures. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may promote cancer cell proliferation, warranting further investigation.
• Standardized methods developed for microplastic toxicity assessment on gastric cancer • Microplastic exposure increased cancer cell growth in 2D and 3D models • No direct penetration of microplastics into 3D cancer spheroids observed • Potential cancer-promoting effects of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics Microplastics have emerged as a significant global environmental concern, yet the absence of standardized protocols for assessing their toxicity remains a challenge. To address this gap, we applied the ISO 10993-5:2009 and ISO 10993-12:2012 standards for the first time to evaluate the effects of microplastics on cancer progression. Our study utilized both two-dimensional and three-dimensional models of gastric cancer to investigate the potential role of microplastics in promoting cancer growth. The MTT assay results revealed that the highest concentrations of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) enhanced the proliferation of gastric cancer cells at both 24 and 72 hours. After 24 hours, AGS cells treated with PE-MPs and PP-MPs exhibited increased viability, reaching 116.08% ± 15.55 and 118.78% ± 13.96, respectively; however, this increase was not statistically significant. In contrast, after 72 hours, AGS cells showed significantly enhanced growth, with viability reaching 122.37% ± 9.28 for PE-MPs and 131.51% ± 3.05 for PP-MPs (p < 0.001). In the three-dimensional model, live/dead staining results after seven days indicated that spheroids exposed to microplastics demonstrated greater cell survival compared to the control group. The percentage area growth of spheroids was 7.93% ± 1.5 for the control, 13.93% ± 4.85 for PE-MPs, and 19.59% ± 1.61 for PP-MPs, with the increase in PP-MPs being statistically significant (p < 0.05). Additionally, microplastics did not penetrate the three-dimensional gastric cancer within seven days. This research highlights the potential impact of microplastics on cancer development and introduces a novel methodological approach.
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