Tumour modelling facilitates the study of tumour growth in the tumour microenvironment (TME). Therapies that affect the tumour microenvironment are critical for advancing the fight against cancer as emerging therapies target the network of signaling pathways essential for tumour growth, Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition and metastasis (ex. Wnt/ß-Catenin pathway). Patient derived tumour models, including melanoma cell lines, are invaluable tools to study normal and malignant cells, tumour formation and drug resistance.

Rockland Immunochemicals Inc. has partnered with the Wistar Research Institute, to produce and validate a diverse panel of low passage melanoma cell lines from freshly excised metastases. More than 100 melanoma cell lines are grouped for BRAF, N-RAS, KIT, PTEN and CDK4 mutations.  These pre-clinical tumour cell lines models can be used to identify the critical target genes and pathways enacted by genomic alterations and lead to more accurately prediction of the effectiveness of novel cancer therapeutics and facilitate cancer research.

Over the last years, mRNA-based experimental approaches have been successfully used in a broad range of research applications (genome editing, gene replacement, vaccine, immunotherapy, cellular reprogramming…) without risk of integration into the genome of the host cell.
mRNA molecules, mimicking fully processed, capped and polyadenylated mRNA, can now be reliably produced via in vitro transcription methods while reducing innate immune stimulation. In this post, 4 tips & Tricks are presented to help produce and optimally use your mRNAs in your research and drug development projects.

Sircol collagen assay standards – Biocolor at tebu-bio

In living organisms, ExtraCellular Matrix (ECM) builds up a complex and dynamic network of molecules, playing a major role in structural support, adhesion, movement and cellular regulation. Major components of the ECM (Collagen, Proteoglycans, Elastin, Hyaluronan) are key elements studied in the Pharmaceutical and Cosmetology fields due to their strong involvement in tissue regeneration, skin repair, wound healing, ageing diseases, surgery, inflammation, and also tumour development.

Boost your ECM studies with these 5 kits!

To help you in monitoring this component, let’s take a look at five robust and easy-to-use, in vitro assays, with colorimetric read-outs for easier daily use in your research.

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Cell-based assays have become a classic way to monitor cells’ reactions to a treatment or a specific stimulus. They involve a reporter construction and a detection system. The classic system is Firefly Luciferase, combined or not with Renilla Luciferase. Luciferases allow simple data acquisition on a plate reader.

Nevertheless, Firefly Luciferase requires cell lysis. End-point acquisition is the only method and optimizations of the right moment is recommended. To bring more convenience, robustness and higher sensitivity, Gaussian luciferase can well be your better choice.