Investigating cell migration in ovarian cancer

This is a practical project for second year Biomedical science students, although it can be adapted for a final year capstone research project. Students use the in-vitro scratch assay to assess cell migration in an ovarian cancer cell line. The primary focus is on experimental design, teaching students how to choose appropriate concentrations of drugs and decide on the relevant negative and positive controls. The project can be easily adapted to study cell migration in a different context such as wound healing, with a different cell line and pharmacological target.

It helps for students to have an understanding of cellular biology, including the basic processes involved in cell migration. Students do not need any prior knowledge of the role of cell migration in cancer as this is covered in the introductory lecture to the practical. Our students have previous experience using digital inverted microscopes and completing image analysis in ImageJ, however, teaching these skills could be incorporated into the practical.

This project runs over four sessions (sets of two, each set in a single day).

Designed / developed by Laura Corns (contact l.f.corns@sheffield.ac.uk), Andrew Metcalfe, and Elena Rainero