Cellular apoptosis assay of breast cancer

Apoptosis is an energy-dependent enzymatic cell suicide process. It almost always involves the activation of caspases. In this chapter, we systemically introduce methodologies to assay caspases dependent biochemical and morphological changes in vitro breast cancer cell lines and in vivo breast cancer tissues. In addition, mitochondrial involvement is crucial to distinguish two different apoptotic pathways. Methodology to assay dissipation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, an early event of mitochondrial involvement, is also included. Of note, since apoptotic features may not appear to the same extent depending on the context of cell types and the death-inducing insults, a common practice is to use more than one method to assess apoptosis, qualitatively and quantitatively.