3-Dimensional multicellular aggregates of human cervical cancer cell line SiHa - getting to the core of their morphologies

3-Dimensional (3D) cultures of cancer cell lines exhibit unique morphologies, a feature that can be utilized for understanding several aspects of solid tumors. This study aims to investigate the morphology and morphometrics of agarose hydrogel-induced 3D aggregates of SiHa cell line. Floating 3D aggregates of SiHa cells were obtained using liquid overlay technique on 1 % agarose hydrogel. The aggregates were monitored daily for its progressive growth and morphology, and documented. The morphometric analysis of the multicellular 3D spheroids were performed on cultures in the late exponential/log phase (the 93rd hour in culture). The morphology exhibited by the 3D aggregates at this stage was "grape-like". Three morphometric parameters viz. average area, average number, and average roundness of aggregates, were determined and was found that the compactness of the aggregates was the maximum on Day 5 post-seeding. Additionally, the aggregates exhibited multi-acinar structures and extracellular matrix, characteristic of tumour progression. Establishing the morphological parameters of SiHa is an approach to better understand the characteristics of 3D aggregates. Such analysis has a direct bearing on translational benefits towards solid tumour research.