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Axemaker H, Plesselova S, Calar K, Jorgensen M, Wollman J, de la Puente P. Reprogramming of normal fibroblasts into ovarian cancer-associated fibroblasts via non-vesicular paracrine signaling induces an activated fibroblast phenotype. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119801. [PMID: 39038611 PMCID: PMC11365755 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2024.119801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key contributors to ovarian cancer (OC) progression and therapeutic resistance through dysregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). CAFs are a heterogenous population derived from different cell types through activation and reprogramming. Current studies rely on uncharacterized heterogenous primary CAFs or normal fibroblasts that fail to recapitulate CAF-like tumor behavior. Here, we present that conditioned media from ovarian cancer lines leads to an increase in the activated state of fibroblasts demonstrated by functional assays and up-regulation of known CAF-related genes and ECM pathways. Phenotypic and functional characterization demonstrated that the conditioned CAFs expressed a CAF-like phenotype, strengthened proliferation, secretory, contractility, and ECM remodeling properties when compared to resting normal fibroblasts, consistent with an activated fibroblast status. Moreover, conditioned CAFs significantly enhanced drug resistance and tumor progression. Critically, the conditioned CAFs resemble a transcriptional signature with involvement of ECM remodeling. The present study provides mechanistic and functional insights about the activation and reprogramming of CAFs in the ovarian tumor microenvironment mediated by non-vesicular paracrine signaling. Moreover, it provides a translational based approach to reprogram normal fibroblasts from both uterine and ovarian origin into CAFs using tumor-derived conditioned media. Using these resources, further development of therapeutics that possess potentiality and specificity towards CAF/ECM-mediated chemoresistance in OC are further warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Axemaker
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Simona Plesselova
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Kristin Calar
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Megan Jorgensen
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Jared Wollman
- Flow Cytometry Core, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Pilar de la Puente
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA; Flow Cytometry Core, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA; Department of Surgery, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA.
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2
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Ding K, Li H, Xu Q, Zhao Y, Wang K, Liu T. Real-time label-free three-dimensional invasion assay for anti-metastatic drug screening using impedance sensing. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1387949. [PMID: 38919253 PMCID: PMC11196599 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1387949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor metastasis presents a formidable challenge in cancer treatment, necessitating effective tools for anti-cancer drug development. Conventional 2D cell culture methods, while considered the "gold standard" for invasive studies, exhibit limitations in representing cancer hallmarks and phenotypes. This study proposes an innovative approach that combines the advantages of 3D tumor spheroid culture with impedance-based biosensing technologies to establish a high-throughput 3D cell invasion assay for anti-metastasis drug screening through multicellular tumor spheroids. In addition, the xCELLigence device is employed to monitor the time-dependent kinetics of cell behavior, including attachment and invasion out of the 3D matrix. Moreover, an iron chelator (deferoxamine) is employed to monitor the inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in 3D spheroids across different tumor cell types. The above results indicate that our integrated 3D cell invasion assay with impedance-based sensing could be a promising tool for enhancing the quality of the drug development pipeline by providing a robust platform for predicting the efficacy and safety of anti-metastatic drugs before advancing into preclinical or clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ding
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hailong Li
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Qian Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yongmei Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Kaikai Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Tianqing Liu
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW, Australia
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3
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Franzén AS, Boulifa A, Radecke C, Stintzing S, Raftery MJ, Pecher G. Next-Generation CEA-CAR-NK-92 Cells against Solid Tumors: Overcoming Tumor Microenvironment Challenges in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:388. [PMID: 38254876 PMCID: PMC10814835 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) presents a formidable medical challenge, demanding innovative therapeutic strategies. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cell therapy has emerged as a promising alternative to CAR T-cell therapy for cancer. A suitable tumor antigen target on CRC is carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), given its widespread expression and role in tumorigenesis and metastasis. CEA is known to be prolifically shed from tumor cells in a soluble form, thus hindering CAR recognition of tumors and migration through the TME. We have developed a next-generation CAR construct exclusively targeting cell-associated CEA, incorporating a PD1-checkpoint inhibitor and a CCR4 chemokine receptor to enhance homing and infiltration of the CAR-NK-92 cell line through the TME, and which does not induce fratricidal killing of CAR-NK-92-cells. To evaluate this therapeutic approach, we harnessed intricate 3D multicellular tumor spheroid models (MCTS), which emulate key elements of the TME. Our results demonstrate the effective cytotoxicity of CEA-CAR-NK-92 cells against CRC in colorectal cell lines and MCTS models. Importantly, minimal off-target activity against non-cancerous cell lines underscores the precision of this therapy. Furthermore, the integration of the CCR4 migration receptor augments homing by recognizing target ligands, CCL17 and CCL22. Notably, our CAR design results in no significant trogocytosis-induced fratricide. In summary, the proposed CEA-targeting CAR-NK cell therapy could offer a promising solution for CRC treatment, combining precision and efficacy in a tailored approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Sebastian Franzén
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Competence Center of Immuno-Oncology and Translational Cell Therapy (KITZ), Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, CCM, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Abdelhadi Boulifa
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Competence Center of Immuno-Oncology and Translational Cell Therapy (KITZ), Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, CCM, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Clarissa Radecke
- Competence Center of Immuno-Oncology and Translational Cell Therapy (KITZ), Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, CCM, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Stintzing
- Competence Center of Immuno-Oncology and Translational Cell Therapy (KITZ), Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, CCM, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin J. Raftery
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Competence Center of Immuno-Oncology and Translational Cell Therapy (KITZ), Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, CCM, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriele Pecher
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Competence Center of Immuno-Oncology and Translational Cell Therapy (KITZ), Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, CCM, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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4
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Axemaker H, Plesselova S, Calar K, Jorgensen M, Wollman J, de la Puente P. Normal Uterine Fibroblast Are Reprogramed into Ovarian Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts by Ovarian Tumor-derived Conditioned Media. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.29.560158. [PMID: 37873479 PMCID: PMC10592803 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.29.560158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key contributors to ovarian cancer (OC) progression and therapeutic resistance through dysregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). CAFs are a heterogenous population derived from different cell types through activation and reprogramming. Current studies rely on uncharacterized heterogenous primary CAFs or normal fibroblasts that fail to recapitulate CAF-like tumor behavior. Here, we present a translatable-based approach for the reprogramming of normal uterine fibroblasts into ovarian CAFs using ovarian tumor-derived conditioned media to establish two well-characterized ovarian conditioned CAF lines. Phenotypic and functional characterization demonstrated that the conditioned CAFs expressed a CAF-like phenotype, strengthened proliferation, secretory, contractility, and ECM remodeling properties when compared to resting normal fibroblasts, consistent with an activated fibroblast status. Moreover, conditioned CAFs significantly enhanced drug resistance and tumor progression and resembled a CAF-like subtype associated with worse prognosis. The present study provides a reproducible, cost-effective, and clinically relevant protocol to reprogram normal fibroblasts into CAFs using tumor-derived conditioned media. Using these resources, further development of therapeutics that possess potentiality and specificity towards CAF-mediated chemoresistance in OC are further warranted.
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5
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van Rijt A, Stefanek E, Valente K. Preclinical Testing Techniques: Paving the Way for New Oncology Screening Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4466. [PMID: 37760435 PMCID: PMC10526899 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prior to clinical trials, preclinical testing of oncology drug candidates is performed by evaluating drug candidates with in vitro and in vivo platforms. For in vivo testing, animal models are used to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of drug candidates. However, animal models often display poor translational results as many drugs that pass preclinical testing fail when tested with humans, with oncology drugs exhibiting especially poor acceptance rates. The FDA Modernization Act 2.0 promotes alternative preclinical testing techniques, presenting the opportunity to use higher complexity in vitro models as an alternative to in vivo testing, including three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models. Three-dimensional tissue cultures address many of the shortcomings of 2D cultures by more closely replicating the tumour microenvironment through a combination of physiologically relevant drug diffusion, paracrine signalling, cellular phenotype, and vascularization that can better mimic native human tissue. This review will discuss the common forms of 3D cell culture, including cell spheroids, organoids, organs-on-a-chip, and 3D bioprinted tissues. Their advantages and limitations will be presented, aiming to discuss the use of these 3D models to accurately represent human tissue and as an alternative to animal testing. The use of 3D culture platforms for preclinical drug development is expected to accelerate as these platforms continue to improve in complexity, reliability, and translational predictivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia van Rijt
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada;
| | - Evan Stefanek
- VoxCell BioInnovation Inc., Victoria, BC V8T 5L2, Canada;
| | - Karolina Valente
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada;
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6
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Neuer AL, Vogel A, Gogos A, Kissling VM, Tsolaki E, Herrmann IK. Metal-Organic Framework Mediated Radio-Enhancement Assessed in High-Throughput-Compatible 3D Tumor Spheroid Co-Cultures. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023:e2300075. [PMID: 37178330 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Inorganic nanomaterials have gained increasing attention in radiation oncology, owing to their radiation therapy enhancing properties. To accelerate candidate material selection and overcome the disconnect between conventional 2D cell culture and in vivo findings, screening platforms unifying high-throughput with physiologically relevant endpoint analysis based on 3D in vitro models are promising. Here, a 3D tumor spheroid co-culture model based on cancerous and healthy human cells is presented for the concurrent assessment of radio-enhancement efficacy, toxicity, and intratissural biodistribution with full ultrastructural context of radioenhancer candidate materials. Its potential for rapid candidate materials screening is showcased based on the example of nano-sized metal-organic frameworks (nMOFs) and direct benchmarking against gold nanoparticles (the current "gold standard"). Dose enhancement factors (DEFs) ranging between 1.4 and 1.8 are measured for Hf-, Ti-, TiZr-, and Au-based materials in 3D tissues and are overall lower than in 2D cell cultures, where DEF values exceeding 2 are found. In summary, the presented co-cultured tumor spheroid-healthy fibroblast model with tissue-like characteristics may serve as high-throughput platform enabling rapid, cell line-specific endpoint analysis for therapeutic efficacy and toxicity assessment, as well as accelerated radio-enhancer candidate screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lena Neuer
- Laboratory for Particles-Biology Interactions, Department of Materials Meet Life, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, St. Gallen, 9014, Switzerland
- Nanoparticle Systems Engineering Laboratory, Institute of Process Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Vogel
- Laboratory for Particles-Biology Interactions, Department of Materials Meet Life, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, St. Gallen, 9014, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Gogos
- Laboratory for Particles-Biology Interactions, Department of Materials Meet Life, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, St. Gallen, 9014, Switzerland
- Nanoparticle Systems Engineering Laboratory, Institute of Process Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Vera M Kissling
- Laboratory for Particles-Biology Interactions, Department of Materials Meet Life, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, St. Gallen, 9014, Switzerland
| | - Elena Tsolaki
- Laboratory for Particles-Biology Interactions, Department of Materials Meet Life, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, St. Gallen, 9014, Switzerland
- Nanoparticle Systems Engineering Laboratory, Institute of Process Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Inge K Herrmann
- Laboratory for Particles-Biology Interactions, Department of Materials Meet Life, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, St. Gallen, 9014, Switzerland
- Nanoparticle Systems Engineering Laboratory, Institute of Process Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
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7
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Krysko DV, Demuynck R, Efimova I, Naessens F, Krysko O, Catanzaro E. In Vitro Veritas: From 2D Cultures to Organ-on-a-Chip Models to Study Immunogenic Cell Death in the Tumor Microenvironment. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223705. [PMID: 36429133 PMCID: PMC9688238 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a functionally unique form of cell death that promotes a T-cell-dependent anti-tumor immune response specific to antigens originating from dying cancer cells. Many anticancer agents and strategies induce ICD, but despite their robust effects in vitro and in vivo on mice, translation into the clinic remains challenging. A major hindrance in antitumor research is the poor predictive ability of classic 2D in vitro models, which do not consider tumor biological complexity, such as the contribution of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which plays a crucial role in immunosuppression and cancer evasion. In this review, we describe different tumor models, from 2D cultures to organ-on-a-chip technology, as well as spheroids and perfusion bioreactors, all of which mimic the different degrees of the TME complexity. Next, we discuss how 3D cell cultures can be applied to study ICD and how to increase the translational potential of the ICD inducers. Finally, novel research directions are provided regarding ICD in the 3D cellular context which may lead to novel immunotherapies for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitri V. Krysko
- Cell Death Investigation and Therapy Laboratory, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603022, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-9-3323396
| | - Robin Demuynck
- Cell Death Investigation and Therapy Laboratory, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Iuliia Efimova
- Cell Death Investigation and Therapy Laboratory, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Faye Naessens
- Cell Death Investigation and Therapy Laboratory, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Olga Krysko
- Cell Death Investigation and Therapy Laboratory, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603022, Russia
| | - Elena Catanzaro
- Cell Death Investigation and Therapy Laboratory, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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8
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Saad MA, Zhung W, Stanley ME, Formica S, Grimaldo-Garcia S, Obaid G, Hasan T. Photoimmunotherapy Retains Its Anti-Tumor Efficacy with Increasing Stromal Content in Heterotypic Pancreatic Cancer Spheroids. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:2549-2563. [PMID: 35583476 PMCID: PMC10443673 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease characterized by increased levels of desmoplasia that contribute to reduced drug delivery and poor treatment outcomes. In PDAC, the stromal content can account for up to 90% of the total tumor volume. The complex interplay between stromal components, including pancreatic cancer-associated fibroblasts (PCAFs), and PDAC cells in the tumor microenvironment has a significant impact on the prognoses and thus needs to be recapitulated in vitro when evaluating various treatment strategies. This study is a systematic evaluation of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in 3D heterotypic coculture models of PDAC with varying ratios of patient-derived PCAFs that simulate heterogeneous PDAC tumors with increasing stromal content. The efficacy of antibody-targeted PDT (photoimmunotherapy; PIT) using cetuximab (a clinically approved anti-EGFR antibody) photoimmunoconjugates (PICs) of a benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD) is contrasted with that of liposomal BPD (Visudyne), which is currently in clinical trials for PDT of PDAC. We demonstrate that both Visudyne-PDT and PIT were effective in heterotypic PDAC 3D spheroids with a low stromal content. However, as the stromal content increases above 50% in the 3D spheroids, the efficacy of Visudyne-PDT is reduced by up to 10-fold, while PIT retains its efficacy. PIT was found to be 10-, 19-, and 14-fold more phototoxic in spheroids with 50, 75, and 90% PCAFs, respectively, as compared to Visudyne-PDT. This marked difference in efficacy is attributed to the ability of PICs to penetrate and distribute homogeneously within spheroids with a higher stromal content and the mechanistically different modes of action of the two formulations. This study thus demonstrates how the stromal content in PDAC spheroids directly impacts their responsiveness to PDT and proposes PIT to be a highly suited treatment option for desmoplastic tumors with particularly high degrees of stromal content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad A. Saad
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Wonho Zhung
- Department of Chemistry, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Margaret Elizabeth Stanley
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Sydney Formica
- Bouvè college of Health Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Girgis Obaid
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Current address: Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson 75080, Texas, USA
| | - Tayyaba Hasan
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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9
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Yee C, Dickson KA, Muntasir MN, Ma Y, Marsh DJ. Three-Dimensional Modelling of Ovarian Cancer: From Cell Lines to Organoids for Discovery and Personalized Medicine. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:836984. [PMID: 35223797 PMCID: PMC8866972 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.836984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality of all of the gynecological malignancies. There are several distinct histotypes of this malignancy characterized by specific molecular events and clinical behavior. These histotypes have differing responses to platinum-based drugs that have been the mainstay of therapy for ovarian cancer for decades. For histotypes that initially respond to a chemotherapeutic regime of carboplatin and paclitaxel such as high-grade serous ovarian cancer, the development of chemoresistance is common and underpins incurable disease. Recent discoveries have led to the clinical use of PARP (poly ADP ribose polymerase) inhibitors for ovarian cancers defective in homologous recombination repair, as well as the anti-angiogenic bevacizumab. While predictive molecular testing involving identification of a genomic scar and/or the presence of germline or somatic BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation are in clinical use to inform the likely success of a PARP inhibitor, no similar tests are available to identify women likely to respond to bevacizumab. Functional tests to predict patient response to any drug are, in fact, essentially absent from clinical care. New drugs are needed to treat ovarian cancer. In this review, we discuss applications to address the currently unmet need of developing physiologically relevant in vitro and ex vivo models of ovarian cancer for fundamental discovery science, and personalized medicine approaches. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) in vitro cell culture of ovarian cancer lacks critical cell-to-cell interactions afforded by culture in three-dimensions. Additionally, modelling interactions with the tumor microenvironment, including the surface of organs in the peritoneal cavity that support metastatic growth of ovarian cancer, will improve the power of these models. Being able to reliably grow primary tumoroid cultures of ovarian cancer will improve the ability to recapitulate tumor heterogeneity. Three-dimensional (3D) modelling systems, from cell lines to organoid or tumoroid cultures, represent enhanced starting points from which improved translational outcomes for women with ovarian cancer will emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Yee
- Translational Oncology Group, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Kristie-Ann Dickson
- Translational Oncology Group, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Mohammed N. Muntasir
- Translational Oncology Group, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Yue Ma
- Translational Oncology Group, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Deborah J. Marsh
- Translational Oncology Group, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
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10
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Kaur G, Evans DM, Teicher BA, Coussens NP. Complex Tumor Spheroids, a Tissue-Mimicking Tumor Model, for Drug Discovery and Precision Medicine. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2021; 26:1298-1314. [PMID: 34772287 DOI: 10.1177/24725552211038362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Malignant tumors are complex tissues composed of malignant cells, vascular cells, structural mesenchymal cells including pericytes and carcinoma-associated fibroblasts, infiltrating immune cells, and others, collectively called the tumor stroma. The number of stromal cells in a tumor is often much greater than the number of malignant cells. The physical associations among all these cell types are critical to tumor growth, survival, and response to therapy. Most cell-based screens for cancer drug discovery and precision medicine validation use malignant cells in isolation as monolayers, embedded in a matrix, or as spheroids in suspension. Medium- and high-throughput screening with multiple cell lines requires a scalable, reproducible, robust cell-based assay. Complex spheroids include malignant cells and two normal cell types, human umbilical vein endothelial cells and highly plastic mesenchymal stem cells, which rapidly adapt to the malignant cell microenvironment. The patient-derived pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line, K24384-001-R, was used to explore complex spheroid structure and response to anticancer agents in a 96-well format. We describe the development of the complex spheroid assay as well as the growth and structure of complex spheroids over time. Subsequently, we demonstrate successful assay miniaturization to a 384-well format and robust performance in a high-throughput screen. Implementation of the complex spheroid assay was further demonstrated with 10 well-established pancreatic cell lines. By incorporating both human stromal and tumor components, complex spheroids might provide an improved model for tumor response in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurmeet Kaur
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | - Beverly A Teicher
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Nathan P Coussens
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratories, Applied and Developmental Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
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11
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Tang LJW, Zaseela A, Toh CCM, Adine C, Aydar AO, Iyer NG, Fong ELS. Engineering stromal heterogeneity in cancer. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 175:113817. [PMID: 34087326 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Based on our exponentially increasing knowledge of stromal heterogeneity from advances in single-cell technologies, the notion that stromal cell types exist as a spectrum of unique subpopulations that have specific functions and spatial distributions in the tumor microenvironment has significant impact on tumor modeling for drug development and personalized drug testing. In this Review, we discuss the importance of incorporating stromal heterogeneity and tumor architecture, and propose an overall approach to guide the reconstruction of stromal heterogeneity in vitro for tumor modeling. These next-generation tumor models may support the development of more precise drugs targeting specific stromal cell subpopulations, as well as enable improved recapitulation of patient tumors in vitro for personalized drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Jia Wei Tang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ayshath Zaseela
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Christabella Adine
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Abdullah Omer Aydar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - N Gopalakrishna Iyer
- National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore; Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
| | - Eliza Li Shan Fong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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12
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Wardwell-Swanson J, Suzuki M, Dowell KG, Bieri M, Thoma EC, Agarkova I, Chiovaro F, Strebel S, Buschmann N, Greve F, Frey O. A Framework for Optimizing High-Content Imaging of 3D Models for Drug Discovery. SLAS DISCOVERY 2020; 25:709-722. [PMID: 32484408 DOI: 10.1177/2472555220929291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) spheroid models are rapidly gaining favor for drug discovery applications due to their improved morphological characteristics, cellular complexity, long lifespan in culture, and higher physiological relevance relative to two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models. High-content imaging (HCI) of 3D spheroid models has the potential to provide valuable information to help researchers untangle disease pathophysiology and assess novel therapies more effectively. The transition from 2D monolayer models to dense 3D spheroids in HCI applications is not trivial, however, and requires 3D-optimized protocols, instrumentation, and resources. Here, we discuss considerations for moving from 2D to 3D models and present a framework for HCI and analysis of 3D spheroid models in a drug discovery setting. We combined scaffold-free, multicellular spheroid models with scalable, automation-compatible plate technology enabling image-based applications ranging from high-throughput screening to more complex, lower-throughput microphysiological systems of organ networks. We used this framework in three case studies: investigation of lipid droplet accumulation in a human liver nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model, real-time immune cell interactions in a multicellular 3D lung cancer model, and a high-throughput screening application using a 3D co-culture model of gastric carcinoma to assess dose-dependent drug efficacy and specificity. The results of these proof-of-concept studies demonstrate the potential for high-resolution image-based analysis of 3D spheroid models for drug discovery applications, and confirm that cell-level and temporal-spatial analyses that fully exploit multicellular features of spheroid models are not only possible but soon will be routine practice in drug discovery workflows.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahomi Suzuki
- Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
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