10779/rcsi.10783598.v1 Rachel F. Cox Rachel F. Cox Allan Jenkinson Allan Jenkinson Kerstin Pohl Kerstin Pohl Fergal O'Brien Fergal O'Brien Maria P. Morgan Maria P. Morgan Osteomimicry of mammary adenocarcinoma cells in vitro; increased expression of bone matrix proteins and proliferation within a 3D collagen environment. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland 2019 Adenocarcinoma Animals Biomarkers Tumor Bone Matrix Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 Calcification Physiologic Cell Line Cell Proliferation Collagen Dose-Response Relationship Drug Female Glycerophosphates Humans Mammary Neoplasms Animal Mice Neoplasm Proteins Osteogenesis Phosphates Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Tissue Scaffolds Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2019-11-22 16:25:02 Journal contribution https://repository.rcsi.com/articles/journal_contribution/Osteomimicry_of_mammary_adenocarcinoma_cells_in_vitro_increased_expression_of_bone_matrix_proteins_and_proliferation_within_a_3D_collagen_environment_/10783598 <p>Bone is the most common site of metastasis for breast cancer, however the reasons for this remain unclear. We hypothesise that under certain conditions mammary cells possess osteomimetic capabilities that may allow them to adapt to, and flourish within, the bone microenvironment. Mammary cells are known to calcify within breast tissue and we have recently reported a novel in vitro model of mammary mineralization using murine mammary adenocarcinoma 4T1 cells. In this study, the osteomimetic properties of the mammary adenocarcinoma cell line and the conditions required to induce mineralization were characterized extensively. It was found that exogenous organic phosphate and inorganic phosphate induce mineralization in a dose dependent manner in 4T1 cells. Ascorbic acid and dexamethasone alone have no effect. 4T1 cells also show enhanced mineralization in response to bone morphogenetic protein 2 in the presence of phosphate supplemented media. The expression of several bone matrix proteins were monitored throughout the process of mineralization and increased expression of collagen type 1 and bone sialoprotein were detected, as determined by real-time RT-PCR. In addition, we have shown for the first time that 3D collagen glycosaminoglycan scaffolds, bioengineered to represent the bone microenvironment, are capable of supporting the growth and mineralization of 4T1 adenocarcinoma cells. These 3D scaffolds represent a novel model system for the study of mammary mineralization and bone metastasis. This work demonstrates that mammary cells are capable of osteomimicry, which may ultimately contribute to their ability to preferentially metastasize to, survive within and colonize the bone microenvironment.</p>