ABSTRACT
This chapter shows examples of treatments that stimulate invasion and inhibit growth, and of treatments that inhibit invasion and stimulate growth. A common feature of nearly all the steps leading to metastasis is invasion by the tumor cell population. Concepts about the mechanisms of tumor invasion take into consideration the role of cell mobility. Extracellular matrix is produced by the normal tissue and possibly by the tumor cells; cell-cell contacts can be fully established in three-dimensional culture, and the effects of soluble factors on invasion can be tested in liquid culture medium. The invasiveness of cell populations can be evaluated in vitro via confronting cultures with normal tissue fragments. The chapter describes some technical aspects of the assay, and deals with methods for evaluating the interaction between the partners. It deals with methods for evaluating the interaction between the two partners. The interaction between the two partners starts by bringing a size-selected PHF in contact with an individual cell spheroid.
