Use of histological analysis to study metastatic behavior of breast cancer cells in animal model

Abstract

In light of many new cancer metastasis models that had developed over time, the use of histology and immunohistochemistry remain prominent for researchers to gain insights on cell morphology, apoptosis and extravasation. In this study, the breast cancer cell lines, 231-C3, 231-M1, 231-M2, 231-M3 and MCF7-C3, were injected via lateral tail vein into nude mice. These mice were sacrificed ranging from after 4 hours to 90days. The organs collected are lungs, liver, spleen, kidney and heart. Histology, involving Haemotoxylin and Eosin Y (H&E) staining, gives quantitative and qualitative analysis for the study of site specific metastasis found in the lungs. Immunohistochemistry is conducted to analyse the expression of Vimentin of circulating cancer cells in the lungs tissues for short term experiment and the level of Vimentin expression in metastatic 231-C3, 231-M1, 231-M2 and 231-M3 tumours for long term experiment. Vimentin is a marker for epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), which is related to malignancy of cancer cells.The results correlates with the fluorescence results case that 231-C3 cells displayed enhanced survival and higher malignant potential than MCF7-C3 cells in an experimental mouse model of metastasis.