Spontaneous dormancy of metastatic breast cancer cells in an all human liver microphysiologic system.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Metastatic outgrowth in breast cancer can occur years after a seeming cure. Existing model systems of dormancy are limited as they do not recapitulate human metastatic dormancy without exogenous manipulations and are unable to query early events of micrometastases.

Methods

Here, we describe a human ex vivo hepatic microphysiologic system. The system is established with fresh human hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) creating a microenvironment into which breast cancer cells (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231) are added.

Results

The hepatic tissue maintains function through 15 days as verified by liver-specific protein production and drug metabolism assays. The NPCs form an integral part of the hepatic niche, demonstrated within the system through their participa

SUBMITTER: Wheeler SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4264444 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature