Duct Tape

Breast cancers often develop from changes inside a single cell, but examining the early stages of a tumour forming – tumorigenesis – is challenged by messy chemicals that block the laser light used by high-powered microscopes. Here a new 'clearing' technique washes these away leaving an intact mouse breast duct behind. Assembling several images together into a 3D model, we can now fly through the duct, inspecting the insides like an engineer or an architect might explore a tunnel looking for tiny flaws, although 100,000 times smaller. Coloured fluorescence highlights cells in different layers of the breast tissue – in early cancers, some of these cells may change into mesenchymal cells, helping a cancer to evolve and spread. Combining microscopy with other techniques to assess genetic changes may help to spot breast cells more prone to becoming cancerous, leading to earlier and more effective treatment.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Video from work by Anne C. Rios and colleagues
• Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
• Video published with permission from Elsevier 2019
• Published in Cancer Cell, April 2019