A materials-based approach for interrogating human prostate cancer cell adhesion and migratory potential using a fluoroalkylsilica (FS) culture surface

OPCT-1 is a heterogeneous prostate cancer cell line derived from primary (rather than metastatic) disease which contains epithelial, mesenchymal and CD44high/CD24low cancer stem cell (CSC) sub-populations and from which we have previously generated and characterized stable mesenchymal (P4B6B) and epithelial (P5B3) cell sub-populations. In this contribution, we explore the effect of tissue culture surface chemistry (standard tissue culture plastic (TCP) and a fluoroalkylsilica (FS) culture surface with inherently low surface energy) on the phenotype and adherent capacity of mesenchymal and epithelial cell populations. We demonstrate that OPCT-1 cells adherent to FS surfaces comprise both epithelial- and mesenchymal-like populations; a mesenchymal sub-population derived from OPCT1 (P4B6B) poorly adheres to FS and formed spheroids whereas an epithelial sub-population derived from OPCT1 (P5B3) forms an adherent monolayer. In contrast, P4B6B cells do adhere to FS when co-cultured with P5B3 cells. Taken togethe...