The ability of malignant tumor cells to invade normal surrounding tissue contributes in large part to the significant morbidity and mortality of cancers. Invasiveness requires several distinct cellular functions including adhesion, motility, detachment, and extracellular matrix proteolysis. Metastatic cells produce many proteolytic enzymes (e.g. lysosomal hydrolysates, collagenases, plasminogen activators) while the expression of certain cell surface protease receptors is also increased. 

Our Cell Invasion Assays use a Boyden Chamber in which the top side of the 8 µm-pore membrane is coated with one of 3 gel layers:

• Basement Membrane, a protein matrix isolated from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm tumor cells
• Collagen I
• Laminin

Each Cell Invasion Assay kit is available in both 24-well and 96-well plate formats and contains a complete detection system for quantitation of invasive cells. No manual cell counting is required.