Figure 1

MCF-10A, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 exhibit different cell behaviors in response to culturing on 2D or in staged 3D ECMs. The stated cells were cultured on 2D (2D Ctrl), within 3D control (3D Ctrl), or within tumor-associated 3D ECMs (3D TA). a. Growth rates were calculated every 24 h for a period of 72 h. Note that 3D ECMs appear to be growth inhibitory only in MCF-10A cells with slower growth rates induced by tumor-associated 3D matrices. b. phase contrast transmitted light micrographs depicting changes in cell morphologies of the various cell lines in response to the 2D and 3D substrates are shown; scale bar represents 75 μm. c. Western blot of lysates obtained from the various cell lines cultured in the assorted substrates showing expressions of epithelial marker E-cadherin (E-cad), mesenchymal marker vimentin and loading control glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Note that the 3D ECMs did not alter the original epithelial or mesenchymal characteristics of the assorted cells.