title: Quantification of breast cancer cell invasiveness using a three-dimensional (3D) model.
abstract: It is now well known that the cellular and tissue microenvironment are critical regulators influencing tumor initiation and progression. Moreover, the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been demonstrated to be a critical regulator of cell behavior in culture and homeostasis in vivo. The current approach of culturing cells on two-dimensional (2D), plastic surfaces results in the disturbance and loss of complex interactions between cells and their microenvironment. Through the use of three-dimensional (3D) culture assays, the conditions for cell-microenvironment interaction are established resembling the in vivo microenvironment. This article provides a detailed methodology to grow breast cancer cells in a 3D basement membrane protein matrix, exemplifying the potential of 3D culture in the assessment of cell invasion into the surrounding environment. In addition, we discuss how these 3D assays have the potential to examine the loss of signaling molecules that regulate epithelial morphology by immunostaining procedures. These studies aid to identify important mechanistic details into the processes regulating invasion, required for the spread of breast cancer.
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario.
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Cvetković
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario.
authors: Cameron Glenn-Franklin
authors: CG
authors: Goertzen
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario; Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario; Lawson Health Research Institute; Moshmi.Bhattacharya@schulich.uwo.ca.
authors: Moshmi
authors: M
authors: Bhattacharya
mesh_terms: D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured