Evidence mapPaperPMID 40940762Full record

ArticleCells2025

Development, Functional Characterization, and Matrix Effectors Dynamics in 3D Spheroids of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Nikolaos E Koletsis, Sylvia Mangani, Marco Franchi, Zoi Piperigkou, Nikos K Karamanos

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cells, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Nikolaos E KoletsisBiochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece.
Sylvia ManganiBiochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece.
Marco FranchiDepartment for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4133-3031
Zoi PiperigkouBiochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-0472-5389
Nikos K KaramanosBiochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece.ORCID 0000-0003-3618-0288

Funding

European Union Grant agreement ID: 101130985 "CARES - Human ECM-based platform for anti-cancer drug testing"
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is a critical modulator of tumor invasion and metastasis. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models have been proposed as advanced systems better mimicking the tumor microenvironment (TME), potentially offering enhanced insights into underlying mechanisms compared to conventional two-dimensional (2D) cultures. This study highlights how BC cells develop metastatic potential and tumor progression independently from ECM contact using advanced 3D spheroid culture models compared to traditional 2D cultures in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines. Spheroids were formed using ultra-low adhesion plates, and their morphological and functional properties were assessed via phase-contrast and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), along with functional assays. Both cell lines formed compact spheroids exhibiting mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) characteristics. Functional assays showed enhanced cell migration and dissemination of spheroid-derived cancer cells. Gene expression profiling revealed increased expression of ECM remodeling enzymes, cell surface receptors, and adhesion molecules in 3D cultures compared to 2D. MicroRNA analysis highlighted distinct regulatory patterns specifically associated with metastasis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). These findings demonstrate that 3D spheroid models effectively recapitulate the complexity of TNBC, providing valuable insights into ECM dynamics, epigenetic regulation, and metastatic behavior and potentially guiding improved therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

Extracellular MatrixSpheroids, CellularTriple Negative Breast NeoplasmsCell Culture Techniques, Three DimensionalCell Line, TumorCell MovementEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMicroRNAsTumor MicroenvironmentMicroRNAs3D breast cancer cell modelsbreast cancerepithelial-to-mesenchymal transitionestrogen receptor betaextracellular matrixmicroRNAsspheroids

Identifiers

PMID40940762
PMCPMC12428498

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.