Figure 4.

Copper chelation differently affects 3D proliferation of tumor colon cancer spheroids bearing the BRAF^V600E mutation. Colon cancer cell lines BRAF^wt (HCT-116) and BRAF^V600E (HT-29) were seeded on ultra-low attachment dish allowing for tumor spheroid formation. Four days later, spheroids were embedded into Matrigel and then treated with TM 10 μM. Tumor spheroid formation was assessed at different time points thereafter and spheroids volume was quantified according to the formula: V = a × (b²)/2, where a and b are spheroid length and width, respectively. Representative images of spheroids derived from both cell lines are shown in the left panels. Spheroid volume are reported on the right panels. Results are expressed as means ± S.D. of three independent experiments. * (p < 0.05) TM-treated cells values with respect to untreated cells.