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Quantitation of Macropinocytosis in Cancer Cells

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Cancer Metabolism

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1928))

Abstract

Macropinocytosis has emerged as an important nutrient supply pathway that sustains cell growth of cancer cells within the nutrient-poor tumor microenvironment. By internalizing extracellular fluid through this bulk endocytic pathway, albumin is supplied to the cancer cells, which, after degradation, serves as an amino acid source to meet the high nutrient demands of these highly proliferating cells. Here, we describe a streamlined protocol for visualization and quantitation of macropinosomes in adherent cancer cells grown in vitro. The determination of the “macropinocytic index” provides a tool for measuring the extent to which this internalization pathway is utilized within the cancer cells and allows for comparison between different cell lines and treatments. The protocol provided herein has been optimized for reproducibility and is readily adaptable to multiple conditions and settings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Koen M. O. Galenkamp, Basheer Alas & Cosimo Commisso

Authors
  1. Koen M. O. Galenkamp
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  2. Basheer Alas
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  3. Cosimo Commisso
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cosimo Commisso .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Cancer Institute, North Bethesda, MD, USA

    Majda Haznadar

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Galenkamp, K.M.O., Alas, B., Commisso, C. (2019). Quantitation of Macropinocytosis in Cancer Cells. In: Haznadar, M. (eds) Cancer Metabolism. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1928. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9027-6_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9027-6_8

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9026-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9027-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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