Markers of Hypoxia/Reoxygenation in the Development of Metastatic Breast Cancer.

摘要

A novel in vitro cell perfusion system was designed and constructed. This system can maintain cultured breast cancer cells under conditions simulating the hypoxia/reoxygenation cycles observed in vivo. Preliminary studies suggest that breast cancer cells grown under hypoxia undergo oxidative stress as the main cellular antioxidant glutathione is depleted under these conditions. This suggests that hypoxia and reoxygenation may trigger development of the metastatic phenotype and that glutathione may be a marker for the early stages of progression.