Comparison of Three Different Methods for Determining Cell Proliferation in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

J Vis Exp. 2016 Sep 3:(115):54350. doi: 10.3791/54350.

Abstract

Measuring cell proliferation can be performed by a number of different methods, each with varying levels of sensitivity, reproducibility and compatibility with high-throughput formatting. This protocol describes the use of three different methods for measuring cell proliferation in vitro including conventional hemocytometer counting chamber, a luminescence-based assay that utilizes the change in the metabolic activity of viable cells as a measure of the relative number of cells, and a multi-mode cell imager that measures cell number using a counting algorithm. Each method presents its own advantages and disadvantages for the measurement of cell proliferation, including time, cost and high-throughput compatibility. This protocol demonstrates that each method could accurately measure cell proliferation over time, and was sensitive to detect growth at differing cellular densities. Additionally, measurement of cell proliferation using a cell imager was able to provide further information such as morphology, confluence and allowed for a continual monitoring of cell proliferation over time. In conclusion, each method is capable of measuring cell proliferation, but the chosen method is user-dependent.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Count / instrumentation
  • Cell Count / methods*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Female
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Measurements / methods
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Reproducibility of Results