RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Extracellular matrix mediates moruloid-blastuloid morphodynamics in malignant ovarian spheroids JF Life Science Alliance JO Life Sci. Alliance FD Life Science Alliance LLC SP e202000942 DO 10.26508/lsa.202000942 VO 4 IS 10 A1 Langthasa, Jimpi A1 Sarkar, Purba A1 Narayanan, Shruthi A1 Bhagat, Rahul A1 Vadaparty, Annapurna A1 Bhat, Ramray YR 2021 UL https://www.life-science-alliance.org/content/4/10/e202000942.abstract AB Ovarian cancer metastasizes into peritoneum through dissemination of transformed epithelia as multicellular spheroids. Harvested from the malignant ascites of patients, spheroids exhibit startling features of organization typical to homeostatic glandular tissues: lumen surrounded by smoothly contoured and adhered epithelia. Herein, we demonstrate that cells of specific ovarian cancer lines in suspension, aggregate into dysmorphic solid “moruloid” clusters that permit intercellular movement, cell penetration, and interspheroidal coalescence. Moruloid clusters subsequently mature into “blastuloid” spheroids with smooth contours, a temporally dynamic lumen and immotile cells. Blastuloid spheroids neither coalesce nor allow cell penetration. Ultrastructural examination reveals a basement membrane-like extracellular matrix coat on the surface of blastuloid, but not moruloid, spheroids. Quantitative proteomics reveals down-regulation in ECM protein Fibronectin-1 associated with the moruloid-blastuloid transition; immunocytochemistry also confirms the relocalization of basement membrane ECM proteins: collagen IV and laminin to the surface of blastuloid spheroids. Fibronectin depletion accelerates, and enzymatic basement membrane debridement impairs, lumen formation, respectively. The regulation by ECM dynamics of the morphogenesis of cancer spheroids potentially influences the progression of the disease.