Epithelial to mesenchymal transition in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines / Amirul Iqhwan Azlan Nizam

Breast cancer is the most regular type of cancer which is diagnosed among women in the world. Breast cancer progression leads to increase in mortality rate. It can be easily spread to all part of the body due to metastasis. Metastasis can be induced via a process called epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). During this process, the cell line initially with an epithelial characteristic will undergo transition to acquire mesenchymal properties which lead to increase in invasiveness, migratory capacity, resistance towards apoptosis, and the production of extracellular matrix in the cells. This transition can be induced by certain agents such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), hypoxia, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF). EMT can be indicated by morphological changes of the cell lines as well as the changes in biomarkers activity like twist, snail, and vimentin. Breast cancer cell lines consist of four general morphological characteristics which are round, mass, grape-like, and stellate type. Each type of morphology has their own characteristics and these will influence their metastatic ability. Breast cancer cell lines also have different gene cluster and receptor which indicate the characteristics of the cell lines and the prognosis outcome of the treatment. This study will focus on the morphology of MCF-7 breast cancer line in comparison with morphology of MDA-MB-231 and the characteristics that lead them to undergo metastasis through epithelial to mesenchymal transition process. The results suggested that both of these cells have the morphology and characteristics to undergo EMT.