Fibroblast-derived 3D matrix differentially regulates the growth and drug-responsiveness of human cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies have emphasized the importance of cellular microenvironment in modulating cell growth and signaling. In vitro, collagen matrices, Matrigel, and other synthetic support systems have been used to simulate in vivo microenvironments, and epithelial cells grown in these matrices manifest significant differences in proliferation, differentiation, response to drugs, and other parameters. However, these substrates do not closely resemble the mesenchymal microenvironment that is typically associated with advanced carcinomas in vivo, which is produced to a large extent by fibroblasts. In this study, we have evaluated the ability of a fibroblast-derived three-dimensional matrix to regulate the growth of a panel of 11 human tumor epithelial cell lines. Although proliferative and morphol

SUBMITTER: Serebriiskii I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2603546 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature