Development of a reliable method for human triple-negative breast cancer organotypic culture: Improving imaging and genomic studies in 3D cultures.

ABSTRACT: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly aggressive and lacks targeted therapies, posing a major challenge in oncology. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures fail to capture the tumor microenvironment's complexity, whereas three-dimensional (3D) cultures provide a more accurate model of tumor biology. We developed an advanced 3D culture system for TNBC cell lines BT-20 and MDA-MB-231, enhancing the hanging-drop method with Matrigel to restore essential extracellular matrix interactions. Confocal imaging showed MDA-MB-231 cells forming clusters typical of aggressive carcinoma, while BT-20 cells organized into duct-like structures. Molecular analysis of PI3K and β-catenin target genes revealed distinct expression patterns, with PI3K overexpressed and β-catenin downregulated in

SUBMITTER: Olvera-Valencia M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12059422 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature