Recent studies of the effects of microgravity on cancer cells and the development of 3D multicellular cancer spheroids

Daniela Grimm; Thomas J Corydon; Jayashree Sahana; Luis Fernando González-Torres; Armin Kraus; Shannon Marchal; Petra M Wise; Ulf Simonsen; Marcus Krüger

doi:10.1093/stcltm/szaf008

Recent studies of the effects of microgravity on cancer cells and the development of 3D multicellular cancer spheroids

Daniela Grimm, Thomas J Corydon, Jayashree Sahana, Luis Fernando González-Torres, Armin Kraus, Shannon Marchal, Petra M Wise, Ulf Simonsen, Marcus Krüger

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Review › Research › peer-review

Abstract

The still young and developing space age, characterized by lunar and Martian exploration and the vision of extraterrestrial settlements, presents a unique environment to study the impact of microgravity (µg) on human physiology and disease development. Cancer research is currently a key focus of international space science, as µg fundamentally impacts cellular processes like differentiation, adhesion, migration, proliferation, survival, cell death, or growth of cancer cells as well as the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix (ECM). By creating three-dimensional (3D) tumor models in a µg-environment, like multicellular spheroids (MCS), researchers can expedite drug discovery and development, reducing the need for animal testing. This concise review analyses the latest knowledge on the influence of µg on cancer cells and MCS formation. We will focus on cells from brain tumors, lung, breast, thyroid, prostate, gastrointestinal, and skin cancer exposed to real (r-) and simulated (s-) µg-conditions.

Original language	English
Article number	szaf008
Journal	Stem Cells Translational Medicine
Volume	14
Issue	3
ISSN	2157-6564
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/stcltm/szaf008
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2025

Keywords

cancer
cancer stem cells
in vitro metastasis
microgravity
space biotechnology
tumor spheroids

Access to Document

10.1093/stcltm/szaf008

Cite this

@article{b255ddd646c94462aee2b3d45830c202,

title = "Recent studies of the effects of microgravity on cancer cells and the development of 3D multicellular cancer spheroids",

abstract = "The still young and developing space age, characterized by lunar and Martian exploration and the vision of extraterrestrial settlements, presents a unique environment to study the impact of microgravity (µg) on human physiology and disease development. Cancer research is currently a key focus of international space science, as µg fundamentally impacts cellular processes like differentiation, adhesion, migration, proliferation, survival, cell death, or growth of cancer cells as well as the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix (ECM). By creating three-dimensional (3D) tumor models in a µg-environment, like multicellular spheroids (MCS), researchers can expedite drug discovery and development, reducing the need for animal testing. This concise review analyses the latest knowledge on the influence of µg on cancer cells and MCS formation. We will focus on cells from brain tumors, lung, breast, thyroid, prostate, gastrointestinal, and skin cancer exposed to real (r-) and simulated (s-) µg-conditions.",

keywords = "cancer, cancer stem cells, in vitro metastasis, microgravity, space biotechnology, tumor spheroids",

author = "Daniela Grimm and Corydon, {Thomas J} and Jayashree Sahana and Gonz{\'a}lez-Torres, {Luis Fernando} and Armin Kraus and Shannon Marchal and Wise, {Petra M} and Ulf Simonsen and Marcus Kr{\"u}ger",

note = "{\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press.",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1093/stcltm/szaf008",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

journal = "Stem Cells Translational Medicine",

issn = "2157-6564",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "3",

}

Recent studies of the effects of microgravity on cancer cells and the development of 3D multicellular cancer spheroids. / Grimm, Daniela ; Corydon, Thomas J ; Sahana, Jayashree et al.
In: Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Vol. 14, No. 3, szaf008, 01.03.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Review › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Recent studies of the effects of microgravity on cancer cells and the development of 3D multicellular cancer spheroids

AU - Grimm, Daniela

AU - Corydon, Thomas J

AU - Sahana, Jayashree

AU - González-Torres, Luis Fernando

AU - Kraus, Armin

AU - Marchal, Shannon

AU - Wise, Petra M

AU - Simonsen, Ulf

AU - Krüger, Marcus

N1 - © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press.

PY - 2025/3/1

Y1 - 2025/3/1

N2 - The still young and developing space age, characterized by lunar and Martian exploration and the vision of extraterrestrial settlements, presents a unique environment to study the impact of microgravity (µg) on human physiology and disease development. Cancer research is currently a key focus of international space science, as µg fundamentally impacts cellular processes like differentiation, adhesion, migration, proliferation, survival, cell death, or growth of cancer cells as well as the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix (ECM). By creating three-dimensional (3D) tumor models in a µg-environment, like multicellular spheroids (MCS), researchers can expedite drug discovery and development, reducing the need for animal testing. This concise review analyses the latest knowledge on the influence of µg on cancer cells and MCS formation. We will focus on cells from brain tumors, lung, breast, thyroid, prostate, gastrointestinal, and skin cancer exposed to real (r-) and simulated (s-) µg-conditions.

AB - The still young and developing space age, characterized by lunar and Martian exploration and the vision of extraterrestrial settlements, presents a unique environment to study the impact of microgravity (µg) on human physiology and disease development. Cancer research is currently a key focus of international space science, as µg fundamentally impacts cellular processes like differentiation, adhesion, migration, proliferation, survival, cell death, or growth of cancer cells as well as the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix (ECM). By creating three-dimensional (3D) tumor models in a µg-environment, like multicellular spheroids (MCS), researchers can expedite drug discovery and development, reducing the need for animal testing. This concise review analyses the latest knowledge on the influence of µg on cancer cells and MCS formation. We will focus on cells from brain tumors, lung, breast, thyroid, prostate, gastrointestinal, and skin cancer exposed to real (r-) and simulated (s-) µg-conditions.

KW - cancer

KW - cancer stem cells

KW - in vitro metastasis

KW - microgravity

KW - space biotechnology

KW - tumor spheroids

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105001450868&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/stcltm/szaf008

DO - 10.1093/stcltm/szaf008

M3 - Review

C2 - 40099549

SN - 2157-6564

VL - 14

JO - Stem Cells Translational Medicine

JF - Stem Cells Translational Medicine

IS - 3

M1 - szaf008

ER -

Recent studies of the effects of microgravity on cancer cells and the development of 3D multicellular cancer spheroids

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this