Jenny Deng-Dr. Spector-Week 4: Breast Tissue Adipose Isolation + Making Breast Cancer Spheroids

In this week's clinic/OR, I followed Dr. Spector as he saw patients in his office. I observed many Botox and filler injections. It was moving to hear how one patient was adamant that they would donate their tissues for scientific research. They strongly believed no progress could be made without tissue donation, particularly with their unique genetic mutation. In the OR, I observed Dr. Spector and Dr. Kutler's team perform a resection of squamous cell carcinoma from a patient's ear and subsequent reconstruction of the site. For the first time, I was able to follow Dr. Spector and PA Ann to see a transplant patient who would be getting reconstructive surgery in the abdominal region. I was able to hear how Dr. Spector informed the patient on his role in their reconstruction, why the reconstruction was needed, and to reassure the patient's concerns. Subsequently, I was able to observe this patient the same week receiving a mesh to reconstruct the abdominal wall region. 

In lab, I had the opportunity to once again isolate breast adipose tissue (see image below). I also had the opportunity to pass on knowledge from the Fischbach Lab to Dr. Spector's lab on how to make spheroids. Though the spheroids did not form as nicely as desired (see image below), we have a reasonable explanation as to why and a plan of action to remedy this next time. Finally, I was able to follow Sophia as she confocal-imaged a breast microenvironment (BM) platform. Hopefully, there will be an opportunity to incorporate spheroids into this model system. 

Breast adipose tissue isolation. From left to right: 1) separation of yellow, fatty tissue from white, fibrous tissue, 2) harvested adipose tissue in a conical, 3) centrifugation of adipose tissue after a PBS wash, and 4) centrifugation of adipose tissue after enzymatic digestion. 

An MDA-MB-231 spheroid made via the hanging drop method imaged using bright field microscopy. The empty spaces in between the cells indicate a lack of compaction. 




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