Credit: Joseph P. Miller
(A) Collagen matrices are prepared inside transwell containers, where one set is treated with clinical doses of radiation. (B) Cancer cell are then seeded on the collagen and allowed to adhere, spread and invade through the matrix. (C) Confocal imaging reveals that the cancer cells seeded on the irradiated matrices have a reduced ability to adhere and, if they do adhere, a reduced ability to spread relative to nonirradiated matrices. (D) When accounting for the reduced efficiency in adherence, the cancer cells display a similar inefficiency in their ability in invade through the collagen of irradiated matrices relative to controls.