New 3D Models of Breast Tissue to Understand the Role of Stiffness and Physico-Chemical Properties on Breast Cancer Cell Stemness

Within the tumour microenvironment, several physico-chemical properties such as extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness, extracellular pH and interstitial fluid flow are dysregulated during tumour progression. Traditional cell culture and animal models, although being a valid alternative to study variations of tissues properties, do not provide sufficient control to further study cause-effect relationships between tumour microenvironment and cancer cells. Particularly, in breast cancer tissue stiffness is known to regulate tumour progression. Breast cancer stem cells (B-CSCs), a dynamic population within the tumour milieu, is a key player in breast tumour progression, metastasis and therapeutic resistance. While some studies explore effect of biochemical factors present within the TME on B-CSC population, we firstly herein report on the direct effect of ECM properties on B-CSC population.