An Organotypic Mammary Duct Model Capturing Distinct Events of DCIS Progression

Abstract

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a pre-cancerous stage breast cancer, where abnormal cells are contained within the duct, but have not invaded into the surrounding tissue. However, only 30-40% of DCIS cases are likely to progress into an invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), while the remainder are innocuous. Since little is known about what contributes to the transition from DCIS to IDC, clinicians and patients tend to opt for treatment, leading to concerns of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. In vitro models are currently being used to probe how DCIS transitions into IDC, but many models do not take into consideration the macroscopic tissue architecture and the biomechanical properties of the microenvironment. Here, we developed an organotypic mammary duct model by molding a channel within a collagen matrix and lining it with a basement membrane. By adjusting the concentration of collagen, we effectively modulated the stiffness and morphological properties of the matrix and examined how an assortment of breast cells responded to changing density and stiffness of the matrix. We first validated the model using two established, phenotypically divergent breast cancer cell lines by demonstrating the ability of the cells to either invade (MDA-MB-231) or cluster (MCF7). We then examined how cells of the isogenic MCF10 series--spanning the range from healthy to aggressive--behaved within our model and observed distinct characteristics of breast cancer progression such as hyperplasia and invasion, in response to collagen concentration. Our results show that the model can recapitulate different stages of breast cancer progression and that the MCF10 series is adaptable to physiologically relevant in vitro studies, demonstrating the potential of both the model and cell lines to elucidate key factors that may contribute to understanding the transition from DCIS to IDC. IMPACT STATEMENTThe success of early preventative measures for breast cancer has left patients susceptible to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Limited knowledge of factors driving an invasive transition has inspired the development of in vitro models that accurately capture this phenomenon. However, current models tend to neglect the macroscopic architecture and biomechanical properties of the mammary duct. Here, we introduce an organotypic model that recapitulates the cylindrical geometry of the tissue and the altered stroma seen in tumor microenvironments. Our model was able to capture distinct features associated with breast cancer progression, demonstrating its potential to uncover novel insights into disease progression.