Detection of Breast Cancer Cells in Tri-culture Using Impedance Spectroscopy

Impedance spectroscopy is an emerging tool in the analysis of cancer [1-4]. Our goal is to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic capabilities of a MEMS-based micro-bioimpedance sensor. To this end, we report a unique narrow multi-branched electrode system in a micro-cell culture chamber on a silicon chip capable of detecting metastatic human breast cancer cells in a tri-culture comprised of normal epithelial MCF10A, HS68 fibroblast, and cancerous MDA-MB-231 cells to simulate a breast tumor biopsy sample. A bioimpedance signature unique to the metastatic MDA-MB-231 cancer cells is elicited by a chemical stimulus, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), an experimental anti-cancer agent that exerts selective actions on the cytoskeletal organization of the cancer cells [5]. This is the first time a complex cell culture consisting of three different cell types has been analyzed using MEMS-based impedance spectroscopy.