Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35893848›Full record

ArticleToxics2022

Morphometrical, Morphological, and Immunocytochemical Characterization of a Tool for Cytotoxicity Research: 3D Cultures of Breast Cell Lines Grown in Ultra-Low Attachment Plates.

Fernanda Malhão, Ana Catarina Macedo, Alice Abreu Ramos, Eduardo Rocha

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Toxics, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed, 22 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. The Application of 3D Cell Culture in Thyroid Cancer.Annals of biomedical engineering · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
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  5. Review
  6. Article
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  8. Guide to dynamic OCT data analysis.Biomedical optics express · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Fernanda MalhãoLaboratory of Histology and Embryology, Department of Microscopy, ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, U.Porto-University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0003-4978-5358
Ana Catarina MacedoLaboratory of Histology and Embryology, Department of Microscopy, ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, U.Porto-University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0003-3533-7343
Alice Abreu RamosLaboratory of Histology and Embryology, Department of Microscopy, ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, U.Porto-University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0003-2095-359X
Eduardo RochaLaboratory of Histology and Embryology, Department of Microscopy, ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, U.Porto-University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0001-9813-4389
Universidade do Porto · PT

Funding

Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Three-dimensional cell cultures may better mimic avascular tumors. Yet, they still lack characterization and standardization. Therefore, this study aimed to (a) generate multicellular aggregates (MCAs) of four breast cell lines: MCF7, MDA-MB-231, and SKBR3 (tumoral) and MCF12A (non-tumoral) using ultra-low attachment (ULA) plates, (b) detail the methodology used for their formation and analysis, providing technical tips, and (c) characterize the MCAs using morphometry, qualitative cytology (at light and electron microscopy), and quantitative immunocytochemistry (ICC) analysis. Each cell line generated uniform MCAs with structural differences among cell lines: MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 MCAs showed an ellipsoid/discoid shape and compact structure, while MCF12A and SKBR3 MCAs were loose, more flattened, and presented bigger areas. MCF7 MCAs revealed glandular breast differentiation features. ICC showed a random distribution of the proliferating and apoptotic cells throughout the MCAs, not fitting in the traditional spheroid model. ICC for cytokeratin, vimentin, and E-cadherin showed different results according to the cell lines. Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors were positive only in MCF7 and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) in SKBR3. The presented characterization of the MCAs in non-exposed conditions provided a good baseline to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of potential anticancer compounds.

Indexed as

3D cell culturebreast cancerlight and electron microscopymodel characterization

Identifiers

PMID35893848
PMCPMC9394479
OpenAlexW4287219462

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.