Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 20, 2025
Invasive Behavior of Human Breast Cancer Cells in Embryonic Zebrafish
Published on: April 25, 2017
Dissecting Breast Cancer Circulating Tumor Cells Competence via Modelling Metastasis in Zebrafish
Inés Martínez-Pena1,2, Pablo Hurtado1, Nuria Carmona-Ule1
1Roche-Chus Joint Unit, Translational Medical Oncology Group, Oncomet, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela, Travesía da Choupana s/n, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Background:
Cancer metastasis is a deathly process, and a better understanding of the different steps is needed. The shedding of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and CTC-cluster from the primary tumor, its survival in circulation, and homing are key events of the metastasis cascade. In vitro models of CTCs and in vivo models of metastasis represent an excellent opportunity to delve into the behavior of metastatic cells, to gain understanding on how secondary tumors appear.
Methods:
Using the zebrafish embryo, in combination with the mouse and in vitro assays, as an in vivo model of the spatiotemporal development of metastases, we study the metastatic competency of breast cancer CTCs and CTC-clusters and the molecular mechanisms.
Results:
CTC-clusters disseminated at a lower frequency than single CTCs in the zebrafish and showed a reduced capacity to invade. A temporal follow-up of the behavior of disseminated CTCs showed a higher survival and proliferation capacity of CTC-clusters, supported by their increased resistance to fluid shear stress. These data were corroborated in mouse studies. In addition, a differential gene signature was observed, with CTC-clusters upregulating cell cycle and stemness related genes.
Conclusions:
The zebrafish embryo is a valuable model system to understand the biology of breast cancer CTCs and CTC-clusters.
