Cell invasion is the ability of cells to migrate from one area to another through an extracellular matrix. Cell invasion is exhibited by both normal cells as well as cancerous cells in response to specific external signals, including chemical & mechanical stimuli. During invasion, extracellular matrix is enzymatically degraded by cellular proteases before cells migrate to the new location. Cell invasion is required for normal processes such as wound repair, vasculature formation and the inflammatory response as well as the abnormal invasion of tissues by tumor cells during metastasis. Cell Invasion Assay Kit utilizes a Boyden chamber coated with Collagen I, where the cells invade the matrix and then migrate through a semipermeable membrane in the Boyden chamber in response to stimulants or inhibitory compounds. The percent cell invasion can be analyzed directly in a plate reader. Our assay is easy to use, sensitive and adaptable to high-throughput systems.
