Epithelial-stromal interactions play an essential role in regulation of mammary gland development, homeostasis, and tumorigenesis. Fibroblasts constitute a substantial proportion of mammary gland stromal cells in human breast and have been recognized for their paracrine signaling and extracellular matrix production and remodeling roles during normal breast development as well as in breast cancer. However, our current knowledge on human breast fibroblast functions is incomplete. Here we provide a detailed protocol for an organotypic human breast assay to facilitate research in the roles of human breast fibroblasts in mammary epithelial morphogenesis and early tumorigenesis.

Department of Histology and Embryology Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Laboratory Hematology Landspitali University Hospital Reykjavik Iceland

Stem Cell Research Unit Biomedical Center Department of Anatomy Faculty of Medicine School of Health Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik Iceland

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