Abstract

Tumor dissemination involves cancer cell migration through the extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM is mainly composed of collagen fibers that oppose cell invasion. To overcome hindrance in the matrix, cancer cells deploy a protease-dependent program in order to remodel the matrix fibers. Matrix remodeling requires the formation of actin-based matrix/plasma membrane contact sites called invadopodia, responsible for collagen cleavage through the accumulation and activity of the transmembrane type-I matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP). In this article, we describe experimental procedures designed to assay for invadopodia formation and for invadopodia activity using 2D and 3D models based on gelatin (denatured collagen) and fibrillar type-I collagen matrices.

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