The researchers used a transparent gel in which cells divide and spread, similar to the developing mammary gland during puberty.
"This technological break-through provides the basis for many research projects, both those aimed to understand how breast cancer cells acquire aggressive traits, as well as to elucidate how adult stem cells function in normal regeneration," said head researcher Christina Scheel of German Research Centre for Environmental Health.
Throughout the reproductive lifespan of a woman, the mammary gland is constantly renewed in order to guarantee milk production. Stem cells are believed to be behind this high cellular turnover.
Discarded healthy tissue from women undergoing aesthetic breast reduction was cultured in a petri dish using a transparent gel.
"We were able to demonstrate that increasing rigidity of the gel led to increased spreading of the cells. Similar behaviour was already observed in breast cancer cells," said Jelena Linnemann, first author of the research.
Using their newly-developed organoid assay, the researchers observed that the behaviour of cells with regenerative capacity is determined by the physical properties of their environment.
Researchers watched the human breast epithelial cells rebuild the three-dimensional tissue architecture of the mammary gland. The cells divided and spread, like the developing mammary gland during puberty.
The behaviour of cells with regenerative capacity was seen to be determined by the physical properties of their environment.