Figure 5

In vitro growth and migration of EpCAM ^low human breast cancer cell lines after overexpression of EpCAM. (A) Cell numbers were determined by the xCelligence real-time system after addition of tetracycline and incubation for three days (n=4). EpCAM overexpression (EpCAM TET+) did not support in vitro cell proliferation under serum-reduced culture conditions. (B) In vitro cell migration was assessed with the transwell CIM plate in the xCelligence real-time migration system 24 h after addition of tetracycline (n=4). MDA-MB-231^{TetR EpCAM} cells showed no significant (n.s.) changes in cell migration after overexpression of EpCAM (EpCAM TET+). In contrast, more mesenchymal Hs578t^{TetR EpCAM} were significantly inhibited by overexpression of EpCAM (EpCAM TET+). (C) Cell proliferation was studied in 3D collagen plug cultures after addition of tetracycline and incubation for three days by measuring the incorporation of BrdU into synthesized DNA. Overexpression of EpCAM (EpCAM TET+) had no significant (n.s.) impact on DNA synthesis in vitro (n=4). * indicates p value < 0.05.