Novel Image Analysis to Link Sub-Nuclear Distribution of Proteins with Cell Phenotype in Mammary Cancer

摘要

The goal of this project is to develop novel optical imaging/image analysis techniques that will allow automated, quantitative screening to distinguish malignant, pre-malignant, and non-malignant mammary tissue. Our hypothesis is that cellular and tissue phenotype is reflected by the organization of components within the nucleus. The past year has produced positive results regarding the use of the quantitative imaging and analysis to relate difference in the distribution and organization of nuclear mitotic apparatus protein to the phenotype of nonmalignant and malignant cell populations in the proliferative, early growth stage. The development of a new image analysis technique shows clear differences in the organization of NuMA foci between nonmalignant proliferating cells and malignant proliferating cells. By extending our studies into normal and malignant human tissue we report that the NuMA organization in differentiated nonmalignant cell of our tissue model system has a normal phenotype. Further, we believe that refinements to our new analysis technique will reveal at least two population existing in our images of malignant human tissue. By quantifying the spatial distribution of these proteins in this relevant culture model system, the work is providing understanding of how such distributions correspond with the phenotype of the cells.