Elucidation of the mechanism of cancer progression using ex vivo model mimicking tumor microenvironment

Cancer microenvironment is created not only by malignant epithelial cells, but also by several kinds of stromal cells including fibroblasts (Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts; CAFs). CAFs communicate with cancer cells and play important roles in several aspects of the tumor progression process. However, CAFs have heterogeneous origins, phenotypes, and functions under these conditions. We isolate CAFs from surgically resected specimens and generate novel in vitro models mimicking the cancer microenvironment by using fluorescence imaging, time-lapse imaging and organoid culture. For example, we found that cancer cell invasion driven by extracellular matrix remodeling is dependent on the properties of cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Elucidation of the mechanism of cancer progression using ex vivo model mimicking tumor microenvironment

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