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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Isolation of Mammary Epithelial Cells from Three-dimensional Mixed-cell Spheroid Co-culture
Published on: April 30, 2012
PRL-3 overexpression in epithelial cells is induced by surrounding stromal fibroblasts
David G Molleví1, Alvaro Aytes, Mireia Berdiel
1Translational Research Laboratory, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. dgmollevi@iconcologia.net
Abstract:
We isolate and culture carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) from primary tumour (CAFpt), CAFs from corresponding synchronous liver metastasis (CAFlm) as well as normal colonic fibroblasts (NCF) from the same patient. From these cultures, conditioned media (CM) was obtained. Culture of a wide panel of colorectal and pancreatic cell lines in CM from CAFlm resulted in overexpression of mRNA PRL-3 and higher overexpression in CAFs than in non-activated fibroblasts. Moreover PRL-3 mRNA expression correlates with expression of alpha-SMA and deposition of collagen fibrils in the stroma. We demonstrate that products secreted by CAFs trigger PRL-3 overexpression in cancer cells. Identification of these factors may contribute to new stroma-targeted therapies for desmoplastic tumours.
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