Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Tumor Cell Invasion Using Au Clusters

Tumor invasion/metastasis is still the major cause of death in cancer patients. Membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is directly related to tumor invasion/metastasis. To accurately and quickly distinguish the risk of invasion/metastasis of primary tumor cells, it is urgent to develop a simple and precise quantitative method to distinguish the expression level of MT1-MMP. In this work, we have constructed red fluorescent Au clusters with peroxidase-like properties that could specifically bind to MT1-MMP on human cervical cancer cells. After MT1-MMP was labelled with Au clusters, we could visually see red fluorescence of MT1-MMP on cervical cancer cells via fluorescence microscopy and catalytic color imaging using an ordinary optical microscope. The constructed Au clusters contained 26 Au atoms; thus, the amount of MT1-MMP on cervical cancer cells could be accurately quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). More importantly, the invasion/metastasis capabilities of the cervical cancer Siha, Caski and Hela cells with different MT1-MMP amounts could be accurately distinguished by fluorescence/catalysis qualitative imaging and ICP-MS quantitative analysis. This method of qualitative/quantitative analysis of tumor-associated proteins on cancer cells has great potential for accurately diagnosing aggressive tumor cells and assessment of their invasion/metastasis risk.