Transcriptional profiling of breast cancer stem cell xenografts and their metastatic derivatives

Breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) line #1 and #4 were grown in either stem cell medium or medium favoring the differentiation. Cells were genetically labeled with fluorescent protein expression cassettes and xenotransplanted into immunocompromised mice, giving rise to tumors. Tumors were explanted, dissociated and kept in culture so as to isolate growing cells. Cells were then sorted for fluorescent protein expression and RNA was extracted.

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