Development and characterisation of a 3D multi-cellular in vitro model of normal human breast: a tool for cancer initiation studies.
Multicellular 3-dimensional (3D) in vitro models of normal human breast tissue to study cancer initiation are required. We present a model incorporating three of the major functional cell types of breast, detail the phenotype and document our breast cancer initiation studies. Myoepithelial cells and fibroblasts were isolated and immortalised from breast reduction mammoplasty samples. Tri-cultures containing non-tumorigenic luminal epithelial cells HB2, or HB2 overexpressing different HER proteins, together with myoepithelial cells and fibroblasts were established in collagen I. Phenotype was assessed morphologically and immunohistochemically and compared to normal breast tissue. When all three cell types were present, polarised epithelial structures with lumens and basement membrane production were observed, akin to normal human breast tissue. Overexpression of HER2 or HER2/3 caused a significant increase in size, while HER2 overexpression resulted in development of a DCIS-like phenotype. In summary, we have developed a 3D tri-cellular model of normal human breast, amenable to comparative analysis after genetic manipulation and with potential to dissect the mechanisms behind the early stages of breast cancer initiation.
Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.|Current address: The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Claire E
CE
Nash
Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Georgia
G
Mavria
Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Euan W
EW
Baxter
Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Deborah L
DL
Holliday
Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Darren C
DC
Tomlinson
Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.|Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.
Darren
D
Treanor
School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Vera
V
Novitskaya
School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Fedor
F
Berditchevski
Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Andrew M
AM
Hanby
Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Valerie
V
Speirs
D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016719:Radioimmunodetection / Q000379:methods; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human; C581292:ERBB3 protein, human
3D cell culture; HER2; breast