This image shows the first live-cell visual representation of an individual neuroblastoma cell making cell-matrix contact: - Front: Metastatic Neuroblastoma tumor cell invading the substrate (not visible here) the cell is migrating on.
- Background: Multiple metastatic Neuroblastoma cells shortly after they were plated on the substrate and prior invasion has started.

My group is interested in unraveling the conditions under which neuroblastoma cells can or cannot invade the extracellular matrix lining the healthy tissue. This image demonstrates the ability to form finger-like protrusions (subsequently characterized as de facto invadopodia) facilitating matrix degradation and presumably thereby aiding metastasis.