Response of breast cancer cells to IFNα-2b in 2D and 3D cell cultures

Abstract

The effect of IFNα-2b on the migration, proliferation, and expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers of MCF-7 tumoradenocarcinoma cells in 2D and 3D cell cultures was examined. A significant cytostatic effect of IFNα-2b on the tumor populationwas detected. It was found that changes in the expression of epithelial (CKs and EpCAM) and mesenchymal markers were caused bychanging the growth type of the tumor population. IFNα-2b inhibited migration of tumor cells to the suspension fraction and promotedan increase in expression of CK and EpCAM in 2D and 3D cell cultures, but only in the 3D culture was expression of vimentin increased.IFNα-2b caused an increase in CK and EpCAM expression by 50.5% and 47.8%, respectively, compared with the control in the 2Dcell culture. In the 3D cell culture this increase was 33% and 34%, respectively, compared with the control. IFNα-2b stimulated thedifferentiation and inhibited the migrational ability of tumor cells in the early stages of breast cancer development.