Tumorigenic cell selection and substrate rigidity manipulation using 2D and 3D extracellular matrices

Abstract

Soft fibrin gels are used to select tumorigenic cells and regulate the stemness and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells via mechanotransduction. This protocol details steps to produce two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrices for substrate rigidity manipulation and tumorigenic cell selection. We also describe how it can be applied to tumor mechanotransductive research by colony growth monitoring and cell isolation. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Chang et al. (2022).