Compressed collagen and decellularized tissue - novel components in a pipeline approach for the study of cancer metastasis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Metastasis is a complex process which is difficult to study and model. Experimental ingenuity is therefore essential when seeking to elucidate the biological mechanisms involved. Typically, in vitro models of metastasis have been overly simplistic, lacking the characteristic elements of the tumour microenvironment, whereas in vivo models are expensive, requiring specialist resources. Here we propose a pipeline approach for the study of cell migration and colonization, two critical steps in the metastatic cascade.

Methods

We used a range of extracellular matrix derived contexts to facilitate a progressive approach to the observation and quantification of cell behaviour in 2D, 3D and at border zones between dimensions. At the simplest level, cells were set onto coll

SUBMITTER: Keeton SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5984782 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature