Researchers at the German Research Center for Environmental Health have
created the first ever three-dimensional human mammary gland outside of
the human body. Using adult stem cells, the study examined how breast
cancer cells can adopt aggressive traits and potentially become lethal.
This innovative new technology has the ability to mimic normal human
breast function, while also allowing researchers to examine types of breast cancers and how they develop.
Observing cells specifically with the ability to regenerate,
researchers found that regenerative properties were dictated by the
physical properties of the environment surrounding the cells.
“We were able to demonstrate that increasing the rigidity of
the gel led to increased spreading of the cells, or, said differently,
invasive growth. Similar behavior was already observed in breast cancer
cells,” said Jelena Linnemann, author of the study.
“Our results suggest that invasive growth in response to physical
rigidity represents a normal process during mammary gland development
that is exploited during tumor progression. This technological break-through provides the basis for many research
projects, both those aimed to understand how breast cancer cells acquire
traits, as well as to elucidate how adult stem cells function in normal
regeneration,” she said.
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