Cancer Cluster

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK. Often represented by a distinctive shade of hot pink, charities have invested millions to overcome the disease. This image demonstrates an important area of cancer research – understanding how tumours develop. Most breast cancers start in a cluster of cells known as mammary acini. Here, two clusters (stained red) can be seen interacting through long lines of collagen (stained green), a structural protein found throughout the body. Clusters that interact through collagen chains are more likely to disorganise than non-interacting clusters. Beautiful though it may be, this disorganisation may lead to the formation of a cancerous tumour. Research into the development and growth of tumours will help scientists to design better, more targeted treatments for patients, paving the way to a cancer-free future.

Written by Hayley Simon

Hayley Simon

Writer

Hayley, a third year Chemistry undergraduate at the University of Warwick, runs her own blog about science and writes for the University newspaper. She particularly enjoys talking endlessly about science to anyone who will listen.

• Image courtesy of Quanming Shi, Rajarshi Ghosh and colleagues
• University of California, San Francisco
• Copyright held by original authors
• Research published in PNAS, January 2014