Studying biomineralization pathways in a 3D culture model of breast cancer microcalcifications.

ABSTRACT: Microcalcifications serve as diagnostic markers for breast cancer, yet their formation pathway(s) and role in cancer progression are debated due in part to a lack of relevant 3D culture models that allow studying the extent of cellular regulation over mineralization. Previous studies have suggested processes ranging from dystrophic mineralization associated with cell death to bone-like mineral deposition. Here, we evaluated microcalcification formation in 3D multicellular spheroids, generated from non-malignant, pre-cancer, and invasive cell lines from the MCF10A human breast tumor progression series. The spheroids with greater malignancy potential developed necrotic cores, thus recapitulating spatially distinct viable and non-viable areas known to regulate cellular behavior in tumors in v

SUBMITTER: Vidavsky N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6747704 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature