Changes in cytoskeleton and cell migration in human breast tumor cells in monolayer and spheroids cultures

Abstract

Breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women. Due to its high incidence, studies on the biology of this cell type have been growing, as well as the search for compounds that can act in their fight. Therefore, there is an increasing search for substances derived from natural products with the ability of act on tumor cells, being less toxic to the normal. Furthermore, cellular culture models have been improved, aiming a better explanation about the tumor cells biology. The three-dimensional culture model, for instance, is closer to in vivo avascular tumoral microregions, because it allows cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and presents heterogeneous microenvironments. The aim of this project is to study the Jasplakinolide effects - compound derived from a marine sponge (Jaspis johnstoni) - which can affect the actin cytoskeleton and the migration of MCF-7 and Hs578t human breast cancer cells lines, when they are cultured in monolayer and as spheroids. The understanding about how the drug can act on cellular migration is of great relevance, because it is related with the process of invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. It is also important the comparison between the responses found in both cultured systems, just as the evaluation of its association with epithelial-mesenchymal transition.