title: Three-Dimensional Assay for Studying Breast Cancer Cell Invasion.
abstract: Cancer cell invasion is a complex process that naturally occurs in a three-dimensional (3-D) environment comprised of tumor cells and extracellular matrix components (ECM). Therefore, examining the invasive ability of breast cancer cells in a 3-D assay is imperative to discovering novel treatment strategies aimed at preventing cancer invasion and metastasis. Here, I describe a method to quantitatively measure the number of invaded cancer cells within a 3-D microenvironment and determine the effects of potential drugs on this cellular process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, NYU Medical School, 550 First Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA. Nikki.evensen@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Nikki A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Evensen
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen
keywords: Cancer cell invasion; Extracellular matrix; Three-dimensional assay