Modeling The Metastasis Promoting Tumor Microenvironment Using Extracellular Matrix Three Dimensional Culture

Rationale: The tumor microenvironment is rich in growth factors and extracellular matrix (ECM), such as TGF-b1 and type I collagen (Col 1), which promote cancer metastasis. Conventional two-dimensional (2-D) culture cannot faithfully recapitulate the tumor microenvironment. Three dimensional (3-D) culture of malignant epithelial cells in laminin rich ECM (lrECM 3-D) more faithfully mimics the tumor microenvironment.