Aging Breast Cancer Models

Age is a major risk factor for cancer. While the importance of age-related genetic alterations in cells on cancer progression is well documented, the effect of aging extracellular matrix (ECM) has been overlooked. Our lab seeks to understand the independent effects of the aged ECM and its influence on cancer initiation and progression. We have identified that the aged ECM alone is sufficient to drive normal human mammary epithelial cells to a more invasive and cancer‐like phenotype, while promoting motility and invasiveness in cancerous epithelial cells. We have been able to show for the first time that the aging ECM harbors key biochemical, physical, and mechanical cues contributing to invasive and cancer‐like behavior in healthy and cancerous mammary cells. This differential response of cells to young and aged ECMs can lead to the identification of new targets for cancer treatment and prevention.