Three-dimensional extracellular matrix culture, on substrata such as Matrigel, restores many aspects of the differentiated state to non-malignant cells from a variety of tissues. We have adapted these techniques to study EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) signalling and drug response in breast cancer cell lines. EGFR-dependent breast cancer cell lines undergo a striking reversion of the malignant phenotype upon treatment with inhibitors targeting the receptor, or downstream signalling intermediates such as mitogen-activated protein kinase and PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase). Using this approach, we have recently reported that EGFR signalling in breast cancer can be effectively inhibited by blocking the activity of a key protease, TACE [TNFα (tumour necrosis factor α)-converting enzyme], which regulates the bioavailability of EGFR ligands. These results suggest a new way to target EGFR signalling in tumours of the breast and other epithelial tissues and underline the value of three-dimensional extracellular matrix culture models for exploring cancer-relevant signalling processes ex vivo.
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August 2007
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Conference Article|
July 20 2007
Three-dimensional extracellular matrix culture models of EGFR signalling and drug response
P.A. Kenny
P.A. Kenny
1
1Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, MS 977-225A, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, U.S.A.
1email pakenny@lbl.gov
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
March 19 2007
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2007 Biochemical Society
2007
Biochem Soc Trans (2007) 35 (4): 665–668.
Article history
Received:
March 19 2007
Citation
P.A. Kenny; Three-dimensional extracellular matrix culture models of EGFR signalling and drug response. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 2007; 35 (4): 665–668. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0350665
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