Reversal of anchorage-independent multicellular spheroid into a monolayer mimics a metastatic model.

Lack of an in vitro model of metastasis has been a major impediment in understanding the molecular regulation of metastatic processes, and identification of specific therapeutic targets. We have established an in vitro model which displayed the signatures of metastatic phenotype such as migration, invasiveness, chemoresistance and expression of cancer stem-cell markers. This in vitro model was developed by the induction of reversal of multicellular spheroids that were generated by anchorage-independent growth. In vivo data further validated the metastatic phenotype of the in vitro model. Besides delineating the molecular events of metastasis, this model could also improve the screening efficiency of antimetastatic agents.