Adipocyte–Breast Cancer Cell Co-Culture in Transwells

Experiments with cell co-culture systems facilitate investigation of the effects of one cell population on another, when the cells are grown in close proximity. Here we describe co-culture of Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) adipocyte cells with the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line using the Corning® Transwell® 12-mm, 0.4-μm pore polyester membrane insert cell culture system. The SGBS adipocyte cell line, which was developed from cells taken from an infant with Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome is comparable, both functionally and biochemically, to primary preadipocytes. The MCF-7 breast cancer cell line is an ER+/PR+ and HER2- line used very commonly in studies of breast malignancy. Consisting of insert supports with a permeable membrane 'floor,' which sit suspended in wells, the Corning® Transwell® co-culture system allows communication between physically separate cells cultured on the membrane and in the well beneath. This co-culture procedure described here can be applied to analyze the effects of cancer cells on the process of adipogenesis and the changes in cancer cells due to adipocyte-secreted factors.