The present invention is directed to a method for identifying i) metastatic potential of a
cancer cell sample from a non-metastatic
cancer or ii) potential for malignant alterations in a healthy
cell, the method comprising the steps of: a) culturing a
cancer cell sample from a non- metastatic cancer or a healthy cell sample in a composition comprising cancer-associated fibroblasts, CAFs, preferably in two-dimensional or three-dimensional cell culturing conditions; and b) monitoring morphological alterations in the sample cells during and / or after the culturing step a), and / or determining the expression level of biomarkers relating to
metastasis in the sample cells during and / or after the culturing step a); wherein the sample cells which show morphological alterations relating to
metastasis and / or changes in the expression levels of said biomarkers in comparison to the levels of said biomarkers measured from corresponding samples cultured in a composition comprising normal fibroblasts, NFs, are identified as having metastatic potential or potential for malignant alterations. The present invention is also directed to a
system for culturing eukaryotic cells comprising a
solid surface comprising at least one partition suitable for culturing eukaryotic cells, wherein said at least one partition contains a combined
cell culture comprising i) cancer cells from a non- metastatic cancer or healthy cells and ii) cancer-associated fibroblasts, CAFs, wherein said partition is a well or chamber.