New Research Explores Advanced Imaging in Metastatic Breast Cancer

New research from the Tilbury Laboratory highlights how advanced label-free optical imaging techniques can provide deeper insight into collagen remodeling in metastatic breast cancer and its role in tumor progression.

Using Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) imaging and two-photon microscopy in 3D human breast cancer spheroid models, researchers investigated how breast cancer cells remodel collagen architecture across multiple spatial scales, from fibril-level organization to larger extracellular matrix (ECM) structures. These imaging approaches allowed the team to better visualize cancer-driven collagen remodeling and its potential as a therapeutic target.

The research also explored how targeting the D93 cryptic collagen epitope with a monoclonal antibody reduced metastatic cell migration, further supporting the growing understanding that extracellular matrix remodeling plays a critical role in cancer invasion and progression.

This work represents an exciting contribution to the growing field of tumor microenvironment and extracellular matrix imaging research and marks Jordan Miner’s first manuscript developed from dissertation research.

Contributors to the project include , , , , , , and .