Fig. 3

Phenotypic sorted cancer cells exhibit differential migration modes in tumor spheroid model. A Representative images of MDA⁺, MDA⁻, and MDA^MIX tumor spheroids in 1.5 mg mL⁻¹ collagen at 24 h post-embedding. Black arrows inside inset images mark single cell migration while white arrows mark collective strand migration; scale bar: 100 µm. B Spheroid outgrowth at 24 h post-embedding. C Average number of single cells migrating from spheroids at 24 h post-embedding. D Average number of strands of migrating cells per spheroid at 24 h post-embedding. E Representative images of SUM⁺, SUM⁻, and SUM^MIX tumor spheroids in 1.5 mg mL⁻¹ collagen at 72 h post-embedding. Black arrows mark single cell migration while white arrows mark collective strand migration; scale bar: 100 µm. F Spheroid outgrowth at 72 h post-embedding. G Outgrowth of spheroid generated with MDA⁺ and MDA⁺ cells with E-cadherin overexpression at 24 h post-embedding. H Average number of single cells migrating from spheroids at 24 h post-embedding. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001, n.s. = not significant