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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-β-induced Invasion
Published on: November 16, 2011
Gene expression of the invasive phenotype of TNF-alpha-treated MCF-7 cells
Yongmei Yin1, Xiaofeng Chen, Yongqian Shu
1Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, PR China.
Background And Objectives:
TNF-alpha secreted by tumor cells and macrophages that have infiltrated into the micro-environment of a tumor may promote the metastasis of a variety of malignant cancers, including breast cancer. The present study was designed to detect gene expression changes in metastatic MCF-7 cells treated with a low dose of TNF-alpha (20ng/mL), and to further explore the mechanisms by which TNF-alpha can contribute to metastasis.
Methods:
Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the invasive phenotype of MCF-7 cells. Samples for cDNA array analysis were collected 3h and 24h after pre-treatment with TNF-alpha and changes in gene expression were quantitated.
Results:
The invasive phenotype of MCF-7 cells was enhanced by the exposure of MCF-7 cells to a low dose of TNF-alpha. Gene expression profiles of 39 genes significantly increased or decreased after treatment with TNF-alpha, 6 of which were genes not previously associated with regulation by TNF-alpha. Genes to promote metastasis, as well as to inhibit metastasis, were identified with some changes being time dependent.
Conclusions:
TNF-alpha can enhance the invasive capacity of MCF-7 cells by affecting the expression of a group of genes that have roles in various steps of metastasis. Mechanistic insights into the role of TNF-alpha in tumor cell metastasis are discussed.
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