Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Findings Encourage the Application of Three-Dimensional in Vitro Cell Co-Culture to Breast Cancer Research

Abstract Traditional research on breast cancer based on cell lines has its limitations. Three-dimensional (3D) cell co-culture is an important tool for breast cancer research. However, while researchers wait for single-cell RNA sequencing technology to mature, it remains impossible to study the 3D cell co-culture cellular function accurately at single-cell levels. In this study, MCF-7, HMF, and HUVEC cells were mixed and cultured directly. The transcriptome changes after cisplatin intervention were detected by single-cell RNA sequencing. Our work aims to verify the advantages of 3D cell co-culture, which seems set to replace the traditional cell line experiment and become a part of mainstream cancer cell in vitro experiments.