Evaluating the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Program in Human Breast Epithelial Cells Cultured in Soft Agar Using a Novel Macromolecule Extraction Protocol.

ABSTRACT: The ability to grow in anchorage-independent conditions is an important feature of malignant cells, and it is well-established that cellular phenotypes in adherent cultures can differ widely from phenotypes observed in xenografts and anchorage-independent conditions. The anchorage-independent soft-agar colony formation assay has been widely used as a bridge between adherent cell cultures and animal tumor studies, providing a reliable in vitro tool to predict the tumorigenicity of cancer cells. However, this functional assay is limited in its utility for molecular mechanistic studies, as currently there is no reliable method that allows the extraction of biological macromolecules from cells embedded in soft-agar matrices, especially in experimental conditions where no visible colonies form.

SUBMITTER: Lau HY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7919038 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature