Polyploidy of MDA-MB-231 cells drives increased extravasation with enhanced cell-matrix adhesion

Metastasis, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, involves a complex cascade of events, including extravasation. Despite extensive research into metastasis, the mechanisms underlying extravasation remain unclear. Molecular targeted therapies have advanced cancer treatment, yet their efficacy is limited, prompting exploration into novel therapeutic targets. Here, we showed the association of polyploidy in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and their extravasation, using microfluidic systems to reproduce the in vivo microvascular environment. We observed enhanced extravasation in polyploid cells alongside upregulated expression of genes involved in cell-substrate adhesion and cell mechanical dynamics. These findings offer insights into the relationship between polyploidy and extravasation, highlighting potential targets for cancer therapy. MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected to express cytoplasmic tdTomato and further tagged with H2B-EGFP. MDA-MB-231-H2B-EGFP-CMV-RFP cells were sorted using FACS into EGFP-positive and EGFP-negative subpopulations. MDA-MB-231-H2B-EGFP-CMV-RFP cells were also sorted depending on nuclei size into small nucleus and large nucleus subpopulations. Real-time RT-PCR gene expression profiling. Total RNA from each sample was collected from 2D culture.