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.