(236c) 3D in Vitro Model of Tumor Microenvironment to Study the Breast Cancer Biology

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women and it is the second leading cause of cancer death.  Breast cancer research is primarily focused on tumor cells to understand the cancer biology and to identify the therapeutic targets for breast cancer. However, recent studies demonstrated the role of tumor microenvironment in neoplastic transformation, tumor growth and invasion and therapeutic resistance. In the present study, the role of tumor microenvironment on breast cancer progression is investigated by engineering hydrogen based three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model. Cells were encapsulated within the hydrogel matrix to provide an in vivo like microenvironment and we compared the cell behavior with two-dimensional (2D) monolayer culture on petri dish. The results show that cells grown in hydrogel matrix develop as tumor-like clusters in 3D formation. Further analysis of cell morphology, proliferation and survival rate reveals that these parameters change with the changing of tumor microenvironment. Confocal microscopy and western blot data showed that the tumor microenvironment influences the biology of breast cancer cells and transformed them into more aggressive tumors. The 3D in vitro model developed in this study is flexible to change the physical and biological properties of tumor microenvironment and thus this system provides a good platform for a comprehensive understanding of molecular pathways and mechanisms involved in progression of breast cancer.