Enhancing therapeutic efficacy through degradation of endogenous extracellular matrix in primary breast tumor spheroids.

ABSTRACT: Solid tumors have a complex extracellular matrix (ECM) that significantly affects tumor behavior and response to therapy. Understanding the ECM's role is crucial for advancing cancer research and treatment. This study established an in vitro model using primary cells isolated from a rat breast tumor to generate three-dimensional spheroids. Monolayer cells and spheroid cultures exhibited different protein expression patterns, with primary tumor spheroids presenting an increased level of ECM-related proteins and a more complex extracellular environment. Furthermore, spheroids produce endogenous collagen type I matrix, which is the main component of the tumoral ECM. This matrix is arranged predominantly around the 3D structure, mimicking the conditions of solid tumors. Treatments with recombi

SUBMITTER: Lo Cicero A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12220849 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature