Comparative Assay of 2D and 3D Cell Culture Models: Proliferation, Gene Expression and Anticancer Drug Response.

Background: In vitro tests allow establishing experimental variables. However, in vitro results cannot be extrapolated to in vivo tests. Considering that three-dimensional (3D) culture has been one of the best ways to portray the in vivo system of most cell types, it is possible to carry out assays with a great clinical relevance for the analysis of the screening, action and resistance of antitumor drugs.

Extracellular vesicles as drivers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and carcinogenic characteristics in normal prostate cells.

There is increasing evidence that cancer dissemination and metastasis establishment may not only be due to the movement of tumor cells. Content of extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by tumor cells may also reflect the origin of these cells. Some molecules that constitute these EVs have already been used as targets for detection of specific tumors.