Name: isolation and functional assessment of human breast cancer stem cells from cell and tissue samples
Uploaded: 2020-10-02T14:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 7 min 3 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples at JoVE.com

Wir danken den Mitgliedern unseres Labors für ihre hilfreichen Gespräche und Unterstützung. Unsere Forschung zu Brustkrebsstammzellen und der Tumormikroumgebung wird durch Zuschüsse des Canadian Cancer Research Society Research Institute und des Brustkrebsprogramms des US-Verteidigungsministeriums (Grant # BC160912) finanziert. V.B. wird durch ein Western Postdoctoral Fellowship (Western University) unterstützt, und sowohl A.L.A. als auch V.B. werden von der Breast Cancer Society of Canada unterstützt. C.L. wird durch ein Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship der kanadischen Regierung unterstützt.

Die Autoren haben nichts offenzulegen.

Brustkrebsmetastasen und Therapieresistenzen sind weltweit zu einer Haupttodesursache bei Frauen geworden. Die Existenz einer Subpopulation von Brustkrebsstammzellen (BCSCs) trägt zur verstärkten Metastasierung 26,43,44,45,46 und Therapieresistenz21,47,48 bei. Daher...

Das Verständnis der zellulären und molekularen Mechanismen menschlicher Brustkrebsstammzellen (BCSCs) ist entscheidend, um die Herausforderungen bei der Brustkrebsbehandlung zu bewältigen. Die Entstehung des BCSC-Konzepts geht auf das frühe 21. Jahrhundert zurück, als eine kleine Population von CD44+CD24-/niedrigen Brustkrebszellen in der Lage war, heterogene Tumore in Mäusen zu erzeugen 1,2. Anschließend wurde beobachtet, dass menschliche Brustkrebszellen mit hoher enzymatischer Aktivität der Aldehyddehydrogenase (ALDHhigh) ebenfalls ähnliche stammzellähnliche Eigenschaften aufwiesen3. Diese BCSCs stellen eine kleine Population von Zellen dar, die zur Selbsterneuerung und Differenzierung fähig sind, was zur heterogenen Natur von Massentumoren beiträgt 1,2,3. Zunehmende Beweise deuten darauf hin, dass Veränderungen in evolutionär konservierten Signalwegen das Überleben und die Aufrechterhaltung von BCSC vorantreiben 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 . Darüber hinaus hat sich gezeigt, dass die extrinsische Mikroumgebung der Zelle eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Bestimmung verschiedener BCSC-Funktionen spielt15,16,17. Diese molekularen Signalwege und die externen Faktoren, die die BCSC-Funktion regulieren, tragen zum Rückfall von Brustkrebs, zur Metastasierung18 und zur Entwicklung von Therapieresistenzen bei 19,20,21, wobei die Restexistenz von BCSCs nach der Behandlung eine große Herausforderung für das Gesamtüberleben von Brustkrebspatientinnen darstellt22,23 . Die präklinische Bewertung dieser Faktoren ist daher sehr wichtig, um BCSC-zielgerichtete Therapien zu identifizieren, die für bessere Behandlungsergebnisse und ein verbessertes Gesamtüberleben bei Brustkrebspatientinnen von Vorteil sein könnten.
Mehrere in vitro menschliche Brustkrebs-Zelllinienmodelle und in vivo menschliche Xenograft-Modelle wurden verwendet, um BCSCs 24,25,26,27,28,29 zu charakterisieren. Die Fähigkeit von Zelllinien, sich nach jeder nachfolgenden Passage kontinuierlich neu zu besiedeln, macht diese zu einem idealen Modellsystem für die Durchführung von Omics-basierten und pharmakogenomischen Studien. Zelllinien können jedoch die in Patientenproben beobachtete Heterogenität oft nicht rekapitulieren. Daher ist es wichtig, Zellliniendaten mit Patientenproben zu ergänzen. Die Isolierung von BCSCs in ihrer reinsten Form ist wichtig, um eine detaillierte Charakterisierung von BCSCs zu ermöglichen. Das Erreichen dieser Reinheit hängt von der Auswahl der phänotypischen Marker ab, die für BCSCs spezifisch sind. Derzeit wird der ALDH-Zellphänotypmit hohemCD44+CD24-Zellgehalt am häufigsten verwendet, um humane BCSCs aus Massen-Brustkrebszellpopulationen zu unterscheiden und zu isolieren, wobei Fluoreszenz-aktivierte Zellsortierung (FACS) für maximale Reinheit verwendet wird 1, 3,26. Darüber hinaus können die Eigenschaften isolierter BCSCs wie Selbsterneuerung, Proliferation und Differenzierung mit in vitro und in vivo Techniken bewertet werden.
Zum Beispiel können In-vitro-Koloniebildungsassays verwendet werden, um die Fähigkeit einer einzelnen Zelle zu beurteilen, sich selbst zu erneuern, um eine Kolonie von 50 Zellen oder mehr bei unterschiedlichen Behandlungsbedingungen zu bilden30. Mammosphären-Assays können auch verwendet werden, um das Selbsterneuerungspotenzial von Brustkrebszellen unter verankerten Bedingungen zu beurteilen. Dieser Assay misst die Fähigkeit einzelner Zellen, bei jeder nachfolgenden Passage unter serumfreien, nicht adhärenten Kulturbedingungen als Kugeln (Mischung aus BCSCs und Nicht-BCSCs) zu erzeugen und zu wachsen31. Darüber hinaus können 3-dimensionale (3D) Kulturmodelle verwendet werden, um die BCSC-Funktion zu bewerten, einschließlich Zell-Zell- und Zell-Matrix-Interaktionen, die die In-vivo-Mikroumgebung genau rekapitulieren und die Untersuchung der Aktivität potenzieller BCSC-zielgerichteter Therapien ermöglichen32. Trotz der vielfältigen Anwendungen von In-vitro-Modellen ist es schwierig, die Komplexität von In-vivo-Bedingungen nur mit In-vitro-Assays zu modellieren. Diese Herausforderung kann durch die Verwendung von Maus-Xenograft-Modellen zur Bewertung des BCSC-Verhaltens in vivo überwunden werden. Insbesondere dienen solche Modelle als ideales System zur Beurteilung der Brustkrebsmetastasierung33, zur Untersuchung von Wechselwirkungen mit der Mikroumgebung während des Krankheitsverlaufs 34, zur In-vivo-Bildgebung 35 und zur Vorhersage der patientenspezifischen Toxizität und Wirksamkeit von Antitumorwirkstoffen 34.
Dieses Protokoll bietet eine detaillierte Beschreibung für die Isolierung von humanen ALDHhohenCD44+CD24- BCSCs in maximaler Reinheit aus Massenpopulationen heterogener Brustkrebszellen. Wir bieten auch eine detaillierte Beschreibung von drei In-vitro-Techniken (koloniebildender Assay, Mammosphärentest und 3D-Kulturmodell) und einen In-vivo-Tumor-Xenograft-Assay, der zur Beurteilung verschiedener Funktionen von BCSCs verwendet werden kann. Diese Methoden wären für Forscher geeignet, die an der Isolierung und Charakterisierung von BCSCs aus menschlichen Brustkrebszelllinien oder primär von Patienten abgeleiteten Brustkrebszellen und Tumorgewebe interessiert sind, um die BCSC-Biologie zu verstehen und/oder neuartige BCSC-zielgerichtete Therapien zu untersuchen.

<table><tbody><tr><td>7-Aminoactinomycin D (7AAD)</td><td>BD</td><td>51-68981E</td><td>suggested: 0.25 &amp;micro;g/1x10&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt; cells</td></tr><tr><td>Acetone</td><td>Fisher</td><td>A18-1</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) substrate</td><td>Stemcell Technologies</td><td>1700</td><td>Sold commerically as part of the ALDEFLOUR Assay kit; follow manufacturer&#039;s instructions for ALDH substrate preparation</td></tr><tr><td>Basement membrane extract (BME)</td><td>Corning</td><td>354234</td><td>Sold under the commercial name Matrigel</td></tr><tr><td>Cell culture plates: 6 well</td><td>Corning</td><td>877218</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cell culture plates: 60mm</td><td>Corning</td><td>353002</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cell culture plates: 96-well ultra low attachment</td><td>Corning</td><td>3474</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cell strainer: 40 micron</td><td>BD</td><td>352340</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Collagen</td><td>Stemcell Technologies</td><td>7001</td><td>Prepare 1:30 dilution of 3 mg/mL collagen in PBS</td></tr><tr><td>Collagenase</td><td>Sigma</td><td>11088807001</td><td>1x</td></tr><tr><td>Conical tubes: 50 mL</td><td>Fisher scientific</td><td>05-539-7</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Crystal violet</td><td>Sigma</td><td>C6158</td><td>Use 0.05% crystal violet solution in water for staining</td></tr><tr><td>Dispase</td><td>Stemcell Technologies</td><td>7913</td><td>5U/mL</td></tr><tr><td>DMEM:F12</td><td>Gibco</td><td>11330-032</td><td>1x, With L-glutamine and 15 mM HEPES</td></tr><tr><td>DNAse</td><td>Sigma</td><td>D5052</td><td>0.1 mg/mL final concentration</td></tr><tr><td>FBS</td><td>Avantor Seradigm Lifescience</td><td>97068-085</td><td>&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;</td></tr><tr><td>Flow tubes: 5ml</td><td>BD</td><td>352063</td><td>Polypropylene round-bottom tubes</td></tr><tr><td>Methanol</td><td>Fisher</td><td>84124</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>mouse anti-Human CD24 antibody</td><td>BD</td><td>561646</td><td>R-phycoerythrin and Cyanine dye conjugated Clone: ML5</td></tr><tr><td>mouse anti-Human CD44 antibody</td><td>BD</td><td>555479</td><td>R-phycoerythrin conjugated, Clone: G44-26</td></tr><tr><td>N,N-diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB)</td><td>Stemcell Technologies</td><td>1700</td><td>Sold commerically as part of the ALDEFLOUR Assay kit; follow manufacturer&#039;s instructions DEAB preparation</td></tr><tr><td>PBS</td><td>Wisent Inc</td><td>311-425-CL</td><td>1x, Without calcium and magnesium</td></tr><tr><td>Trypsin-EDTA</td><td>Gibco</td><td>25200-056</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>&lt;strong&gt;Mammosphere Media Composition&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>B27</td><td>Gibco</td><td>17504-44</td><td>1x</td></tr><tr><td>bFGF</td><td>Sigma</td><td>F2006</td><td>10 ng/mL</td></tr><tr><td>BSA</td><td>Bioshop</td><td>ALB003</td><td>04%</td></tr><tr><td>DMEM:F12</td><td>Gibco</td><td>11330-032</td><td>1x, With L-glutamine and 15 mM HEPES</td></tr><tr><td>EGF</td><td>Sigma</td><td>E9644</td><td>20 ng/mL</td></tr><tr><td>Insulin</td><td>Sigma</td><td>16634</td><td>5 &amp;micro;g/mL</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>&lt;strong&gt;3D Organoid Media Composition&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>A8301</td><td>Tocris</td><td>2939</td><td>500 nM</td></tr><tr><td>B27</td><td>Gibco</td><td>17504-44</td><td>1x</td></tr><tr><td>DMEM:F12</td><td>Gibco</td><td>11330-032</td><td>1x, With L-glutamine and 15 mM HEPES</td></tr><tr><td>EGF</td><td>Sigma</td><td>E9644</td><td>5 ng/mL</td></tr><tr><td>FGF10</td><td>Peprotech</td><td>100-26</td><td>20 ng/mL</td></tr><tr><td>FGF7</td><td>Peprotech</td><td>100-19</td><td>5 ng/mL</td></tr><tr><td>GlutaMax</td><td>Invitrogen</td><td>35050-061</td><td>1x</td></tr><tr><td>HEPES</td><td>Gibco</td><td>15630-080</td><td>10 mM</td></tr><tr><td>N-acetylcysteine</td><td>Sigma</td><td>A9165</td><td>1.25 mM</td></tr><tr><td>Neuregulin &amp;beta;1</td><td>Peprotech</td><td>100-03</td><td>5 nM</td></tr><tr><td>Nicotinamide</td><td>Sigma</td><td>N0636</td><td>5 mM</td></tr><tr><td>Noggin</td><td>Peprotech</td><td>120-10C</td><td>100 ng/mL</td></tr><tr><td>R-spondin3</td><td>R&amp;amp;D</td><td>3500</td><td>250 ng/mL</td></tr><tr><td>SB202190</td><td>Sigma</td><td>S7067</td><td>500 nM</td></tr><tr><td>Y-27632</td><td>Tocris</td><td>1254</td><td>5 &amp;micro;M</td></tr></tbody></table>

isolation and functional assessment of human breast cancer stem cells from cell and tissue samples

Brustkrebsstammzellen (BCSCs) sind Krebszellen mit vererbten oder erworbenen stammzellähnlichen Eigenschaften. Trotz ihrer geringen Häufigkeit tragen sie wesentlich zur Entstehung, zum Rückfall, zur Metastasierung und zur Therapieresistenz von Brustkrebs bei. Es ist unerlässlich, die Biologie von Brustkrebsstammzellen zu verstehen, um neue therapeutische Ziele zur Behandlung von Brustkrebs zu identifizieren. Brustkrebsstammzellen werden isoliert und charakterisiert, basierend auf der Expression einzigartiger Zelloberflächenmarker wie CD44, CD24 und der enzymatischen Aktivität der Aldehyddehydrogenase (ALDH). Diese ALDHHighCD44+CD24- Zellen bilden die BCSC-Population und können durch fluoreszenzaktivierte Zellsortierung (FACS) für nachgeschaltete funktionelle Studien isoliert werden. Je nach wissenschaftlicher Fragestellung können unterschiedliche in vitro und in vivo Methoden verwendet werden, um die funktionellen Eigenschaften von BCSCs zu beurteilen. Hier stellen wir ein detailliertes experimentelles Protokoll zur Isolierung von humanen BCSCs sowohl aus heterogenen Populationen von Brustkrebszellen als auch aus primärem Tumorgewebe von Brustkrebspatientinnen zur Verfügung. Darüber hinaus heben wir nachgeschaltete In-vitro - und In-vivo-Funktionstests hervor, einschließlich koloniebildender Assays, Mammosphären-Assays, 3D-Kulturmodelle und Tumor-Xenograft-Assays, die zur Beurteilung der BCSC-Funktion verwendet werden können.

Das beschriebene Protokoll ermöglicht die Isolierung humaner BCSCs aus einer heterogenen Population von Brustkrebszellen, entweder aus Zelllinien oder aus dissoziiertem Tumorgewebe. Für jede gegebene Zelllinie oder Gewebeprobe ist es entscheidend, eine einheitliche Einzelzellsuspension zu erzeugen, um BCSCs mit maximaler Reinheit zu isolieren, da die Kontamination von Nicht-BCSC-Populationen zu variablen zellulären Reaktionen führen könnte, insbesondere wenn das Studienziel darin besteht, die Wirksamkeit von Therape...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples at JoVE.com

Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples

Dieses experimentelle Protokoll beschreibt die Isolierung von BCSCs aus Brustkrebszell- und Gewebeproben sowie die in vitro und in vivo Assays, die zur Beurteilung des BCSC-Phänotyps und der BCSC-Funktion verwendet werden können.

Isolierung und funktionelle Beurteilung menschlicher Brustkrebsstammzellen aus Zell- und Gewebeproben

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are cancer cells with inherited or acquired stem cell-like characteristics. Despite their low frequency, they are major ...

isolation-functional-assessment-human-breast-cancer-stem-cells-from

Research

JoVE Journal

Cancer Research

4.3K Aufrufe.  London Regional Cancer Program. Dieses experimentelle Protokoll beschreibt die Isolierung von BCSCs aus Brustkrebszell- und Gewebeproben sowie die in vitro und in vivo Assays, die zur Beurteilung des BCSC-Phänotyps und der BCSC-Funktion verwendet werden können.

Serie: Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples

Establishment of Cancer Stem Cell Cultures from Human Conventional Osteosarcoma

The current improvements in therapy against osteosarcoma (OS) have prolonged the lives of cancer patients, but the survival rate of five years remains poor when metastasis has occurred. The Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) theory holds that there is a subset of tumor cells within the tumor that have stem-like characteristics, including the capacity to maintain the tumor and to resist multidrug chemotherapy. Therefore, a better understanding of OS biology and pathogenesis is needed in order to advance the development of targeted therapies to eradicate this particular subset and to reduce morbidity and mortality among patients. Isolating CSCs, establishing cell cultures of CSCs, and studying their biology are important steps to improving our understanding of OS biology and pathogenesis. The establishment of human-derived OS-CSCs from biopsies of OS has been made possible using several methods, including the capacity to create 3-dimensional stem cell cultures under nonadherent conditions. Under these conditions, CSCs are able to create spherical floating colonies formed by daughter stem cells; these colonies are termed &#34;cellular spheres&#34;. Here, we describe a method to establish CSC cultures from primary cell cultures of conventional OS obtained from OS biopsies. We clearly describe the several passages required to isolate and characterize CSCs.

The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in bone sarcomas has recently been linked to their pathogenesis. In this article, we present the isolation of CSCs from primary cell cultures obtained from human biopsies of conventional osteosarcoma (OS) using the ability of CSCs to grow under nonadherent conditions.

Gründung der Krebszellkulturen von Human Konventionelle Osteosarkom Stem

The current improvements in therapy against osteosarcoma (OS) have prolonged the lives of cancer patients, but the survival rate of five years remains ...

Forschung

Krebsforschung

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NF&#954;B Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Inflammation is a cancer hallmark that underlies cancer incidence and promotion, and eventually progression to metastasis. Therefore, adding an anti-inflammatory drug to standard cancer regiments may improve patient outcome. One such drug, aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), has been explored for cancer chemoprevention and anti-tumor activity. Besides inhibiting the cyclooxygenase 2-prostaglandin axis, ASA&#39;s anti-cancer activities have also been attributed to nuclear factor &#312;B (NF&#312;B) inhibition. Because prolonged ASA use may cause gastrointestinal toxicity, a prodrug strategy has been implemented successfully. In this prodrug design the carboxylic acid of ASA is masked and additional pharmacophores are incorporated.
This protocol describes how we synthesized an aspirin-fumarate prodrug, GTCpFE, and characterized its inhibition of the NF&#312;B pathway in breast cancer cells and attenuation of the cancer stem-like properties, an important NF&#312;B-dependent phenotype. GTCpFE effectively inhibits the NF&#312;B pathway in breast cancer cell lines whereas ASA lacks any inhibitory activity, indicating that adding fumarate to ASA structure significantly contributes to its activity. In addition, GTCpFE shows significant anti-cancer stem cell activity by blocking mammosphere formation and attenuating the cancer stem cell associated CD44+CD24- immunophenotype. These results establish a viable strategy to develop improved anti-inflammatory drugs for chemoprevention and cancer therapy.

This procedure will demonstrate how we synthesized and characterized the anti-NF&#954;B and anti-cancer stem cell activity of an aspirin-fumarate prodrug.

Synthese und Charakterisierung eines Aspirin-Fumarat Prodrug, die NFkB-Aktivität hemmt und Brustkrebs-Stammzellen

Inflammation is a cancer hallmark that underlies cancer incidence and promotion, and eventually progression to metastasis. Therefore, adding an ...

Processing of Primary Brain Tumor Tissue for Stem Cell Assays and Flow Sorting

Brain tumors are typically comprised of morphologically diverse cells that express a variety of neural lineage markers. Only a relatively small fraction of cells in the tumor with stem cell properties, termed brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs), possess an ability to differentiate along multiple lineages, self-renew, and initiate tumors in vivo. We applied culture conditions originally used for normal neural stem cells (NSCs) to a variety of human brain tumors and found that this culture method specifically selects for stem-like populations. Serum-free medium (NSC) allows for the maintenance of an undifferentiated stem cell state, and the addition of bFGF and EGF allows for the proliferation of multi-potent, self-renewing, and expandable tumorspheres.
To further characterize each tumor's BTIC population, we evaluate cell surface markers by flow cytometry. We may also sort populations of interest for more specific characterization. Self-renewal assays are performed on single BTICs sorted into 96 well plates; the formation of tumorspheres following incubation at 37 &deg;C indicates the presence of a stem or progenitor cell. Multiple cell numbers of a particular population can also be sorted in different wells for limiting dilution analysis, to analyze self-renewal capacity. We can also study differential gene expression within a particular cell population by using single cell RT-PCR.
The following protocols describe our procedures for the dissociation and culturing of primary human samples to enrich for BTIC populations, as well as the dissociation of tumorspheres. Also included are protocols for staining for flow cytometry analysis or sorting, self-renewal assays, and single cell RT-PCR.

The identification of brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs), the rare cells within a heterogeneous tumor possessing stem cell properties, provides new insights into human brain tumor pathogenesis. We have refined specific culture conditions to enrich for BTICs, and we routinely use flow cytometry to further enrich these populations. Self-renewal assays and transcript analysis by single cell RT-PCR can subsequently be performed on these isolated cells.

Verarbeitung von primären Hirntumoren Tissue für Stem Cell Assays und Flow Sortierung

Brain tumors are typically comprised of morphologically diverse cells that express a variety of neural lineage markers. Only a relatively small fraction ...

Medizin

Obtaining Cancer Stem Cell Spheres from Gynecological and Breast Cancer Tumors

Cancer stem cells (CSC) are a small population with self-renewal and plasticity which are responsible for tumorigenesis, resistance to treatment and recurrent disease. This population can be identified by surface markers, enzymatic activity and a functional profile. These approaches per se are limited, due to phenotypic heterogeneity and CSC plasticity. Here, we update the sphere-forming protocol to obtain CSC spheres from breast and gynecological cancers, assessing functional properties, CSC markers and protein expression. The spheres are obtained with single-cell seeding at low density in suspension culture, using a semi-solid methylcellulose medium to avoid migration and aggregates. This profitable protocol can be used in cancer cell lines but also in primary tumors. The tridimensional non-adherent suspension culture thought to mimic the tumor microenvironment, particularly the CSC-niche, is supplemented with epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor to ensure CSC signaling. Aiming for robust identification of CSC, we propose a complementary approach, combining functional and phenotypic evaluation. Sphere-forming capacity, self-renewal and sphere projection area establish CSC functional properties. Additionally, characterization comprises flow cytometry evaluation of the markers, represented by CD44+/CD24- and CD133, and Western blot, considering ALDH. The presented protocol was also optimized for primary tumor samples, following a sample digestion procedure, useful for translational research.

The aim of this methodology is to identify cancer stem cells (CSC) in cancer cell lines and primary human tumor samples with the sphere-forming protocol, in a robust manner, using functional assays and phenotypic characterization with flow cytometry and Western blot.

Beschaffung von Krebsstammzellkugeln aus gynäkologischen und Brustkrebstumoren

Cancer stem cells (CSC) are a small population with self-renewal and plasticity which are responsible for tumorigenesis, resistance to treatment and ...

Isolation of Stem-like Cells from 3-Dimensional Spheroid Cultures

Despite advances in adult stem cell research, identification and isolation of stem cells from tissue specimens remains a major challenge. While resident stem cells are relatively quiescent with niche restraints in adult tissues, they enter the cell cycle in anchor-free three-dimensional (3D) culture and undergo both symmetric and asymmetric cell division, giving rise to both stem and progenitor cells. The latter proliferate rapidly and are the major cell population at various stages of lineage commitment, forming heterogeneous spheroids. Using primary normal human prostate epithelial cells (HPrEC), a spheroid-based, label-retention assay was developed that permits the identification and functional isolation of the spheroid-initiating stem cells at a single cell resolution.
HPrEC or cell lines are two-dimensionally (2D) cultured with BrdU for 10 days to permit its incorporation into the DNA of all dividing cells, including self-renewing stem cells. Wash out commences upon transfer to the 3D culture for 5 days, during which stem cells self-renew through asymmetric division and initiate spheroid formation. While relatively quiescent daughter stem cells retain BrdU-labeled parental DNA, the daughter progenitors rapidly proliferate, losing the BrdU label. BrdU can be substituted with CFSE or Far Red pro-dyes, which permit live stem cell isolation by FACS. Stem cell characteristics are confirmed by in vitro spheroid formation, in vivo tissue regeneration assays, and by documenting their symmetric/asymmetric cell divisions. The isolated label-retaining stem cells can be rigorously interrogated by downstream molecular and biologic studies, including RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, single cell capture, metabolic activity, proteome profiling, immunocytochemistry, organoid formation, and in vivo tissue regeneration. Importantly, this marker-free functional stem cell isolation approach identifies stem-like cells from fresh cancer specimens and cancer cell lines from multiple organs, suggesting wide applicability. It can be used to identify cancer stem-like cell biomarkers, screen pharmaceuticals targeting cancer stem-like cells, and discover novel therapeutic targets in cancers.

Using human primary prostate epithelial cells, we report a novel biomarker-free method of functional characterization of stem-like cells by a spheroid-based label-retention assay. A step-by-step protocol is described for BrdU, CFSE, or Far Red 2D cell labeling; three-dimensional spheroid formation; label-retaining stem-like cell identification by immunocytochemistry; and isolation by FACS.

Isolierung von Stammzellen aus 3-dimensionalen Sphäroidkulturen

Despite advances in adult stem cell research, identification and isolation of stem cells from tissue specimens remains a major challenge. While resident ...

Patient Derived Cell Culture and Isolation of CD133+ Putative Cancer Stem Cells from Melanoma

Despite improved treatments options for melanoma available today, patients with advanced malignant melanoma still have a poor prognosis for progression-free and overall survival. Therefore, translational research needs to provide further molecular evidence to improve targeted therapies for malignant melanomas. In the past, oncogenic mechanisms related to melanoma were extensively studied in established cell lines. On the way to more personalized treatment regimens based on individual genetic profiles, we propose to use patient-derived cell lines instead of generic cell lines. Together with high quality clinical data, especially on patient follow-up, these cells will be instrumental to better understand the molecular mechanisms behind melanoma progression.
Here, we report the establishment of primary melanoma cultures from dissected fresh tumor tissue. This procedure includes mincing and dissociation of the tissue into single cells, removal of contaminations with erythrocytes and fibroblasts as well as primary culture and reliable verification of the cells' melanoma origin.
Recent reports revealed that melanomas, like the majority of tumors, harbor a small subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which seem to exclusively fuel tumor initiation and progression towards the metastatic state. One of the key markers for CSC identification and isolation in melanoma is CD133. To isolate CD133+ CSCs from primary melanoma cultures, we have modified and optimized the Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting (MACS) procedure from Miltenyi resulting in high sorting purity and viability of CD133+ CSCs and CD133- bulk, which can be cultivated and functionally analyzed thereafter.

Patient Derived Cell Culture and Isolation of CD133+ Putative Cancer Stem Cells from Melanoma

This article describes the preparation of freshly obtained melanoma tissue into primary cell cultures, and how to remove contaminations of erythrocytes and fibroblasts from the tumor cells. Finally, we describe how CD133+ putative melanoma stem cells are sorted from the CD133- bulk using Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (MACS).

Patienten abgeleitet Zellkultur und Isolierung von CD133<sup&gt; +</sup&gt; Mutmaßliche Cancer Stem Cells von Melanoma

Despite improved treatments options for melanoma available today, patients with advanced malignant melanoma still have a poor prognosis for ...

Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells From Human Prostate Cancer Samples

The cancer stem cell (CSC) model has been considerably revisited over the last two decades. During this time CSCs have been identified and directly isolated from human tissues and serially propagated in immunodeficient mice, typically through antibody labeling of subpopulations of cells and fractionation by flow cytometry. However, the unique clinical features of prostate cancer have considerably limited the study of prostate CSCs from fresh human tumor samples. We recently reported the isolation of prostate CSCs directly from human tissues by virtue of their HLA class I (HLAI)-negative phenotype. Prostate cancer cells are harvested from surgical specimens and mechanically dissociated. A cell suspension is generated and labeled with fluorescently conjugated HLAI and stromal antibodies. Subpopulations of HLAI-negative cells are finally isolated using a flow cytometer. The principal limitation of this protocol is the frequently microscopic and multifocal nature of primary cancer in prostatectomy specimens. Nonetheless, isolated live prostate CSCs are suitable for molecular characterization and functional validation by transplantation in immunodeficient mice.

The isolation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) directly from human tissues is requisite for their biological characterization. This manuscript describes a methodology for the isolation of prostate CSCs from human tissues, while also providing tips on troubleshooting difficult steps.

Isolierung von Krebs Stammzellen aus menschlichen Prostatakrebs-Proben

The cancer stem cell (CSC) model has been considerably revisited over the last two decades. During this time CSCs have been identified and directly ...

Evaluation of Stem Cell Properties in Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells Using Multi and Single Cell-based Spheres Assays

Years of research indicates that ovarian cancers harbor a heterogeneous mixture of cells including a subpopulation of so-called &#8220;cancer stem cells&#8221; (CSCs) responsible for tumor initiation, maintenance and relapse following conventional chemotherapies. Identification of ovarian CSCs is therefore an important goal. A commonly used method to assess CSC potential in vitro is the spheres assay in which cells are plated under non-adherent culture conditions in serum-free medium supplemented with growth factors and sphere formation is scored after a few days. Here, we review currently available protocols for human ovarian cancer spheres assays and perform a side-by-side analysis between commonly used multi cell-based assays and a more accurate system based on single cell plating. Our results indicate that both multi cell-based as well as single cell-based spheres assays can be used to investigate sphere formation in vitro. The more laborious and expensive single cell-based assays are more suitable for functional assessment of individual cells and lead to overall more accurate results while multi cell-based assays can be strongly influenced by the density of plated cells and require titration experiments upfront. Methylcellulose supplementation to multi cell-based assays can be effectively used to reduce mechanical artifacts.

In vitro spheres assays are commonly used to identify cancer stem cells. Here we compare single with multi cell-based spheres assays. The more laborious single cell-based assays or methylcellulose supplementation give more accurate results while multi cell-based assays performed in liquid medium can be highly influenced by cell density.

Bewertung der Stammzelleigenschaften in Menschen Ovarialkarzinomzellen Mit Multi und Single Cell-basierte Assays Spheres

Years of research indicates that ovarian cancers harbor a heterogeneous mixture of cells including a subpopulation of so-called &#8220;cancer stem ...

Isolation of Stem Cells from Human Pancreatic Cancer Xenografts

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in a growing number of malignancies and are functionally defined by their ability to undergo self-renewal and produce differentiated progeny1. These properties allow CSCs to recapitulate the original tumor when injected into immunocompromised mice. CSCs within an epithelial malignancy were first described in breast cancer and found to display specific cell surface antigen expression (CD44+CD24low/-)2. Since then, CSCs have been identified in an increasing number of other human malignancies using CD44 and CD24 as well as a number of other surface antigens. Physiologic properties, including aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, have also been used to isolate CSCs from malignant tissues3-5.
Recently, we and others identified CSCs from pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on
ALDH activity and the expression of the cell surface antigens CD44 and CD24, and CD1336-8. These highly tumorigenic populations may or may not be overlapping and display other functions. We found that ALDH+ and CD44+CD24+ pancreatic CSCs are similarly tumorigenic, but ALDH+ cells are relatively more invasive8. In this protocol we describe a method to isolate viable pancreatic CSCs from low-passage human
xenografts9. Xenografted tumors are harvested from mice and made into a single-cell suspension. Tissue debris and dead cells are separated from live cells and then stained using antibodies against CD44 and CD24 and using the ALDEFLUOR reagent,
a fluorescent substrate of ALDH10. CSCs are then isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting. Isolated CSCs can then be used for analytical or functional assays requiring viable cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in a number of malignancies. In this protocol we describe a flow cytometric method utilizing aldehyde dehydrogenase activity and CD44 and CD24 expression to isolate CSCs from human pancreatic adenocarcinoma xenografts. These viable cells can then be used in functional and analytical studies.

Isolierung von Stammzellen aus menschlichen Bauchspeicheldrüsenkrebs Xenografts

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in a growing number of malignancies and are functionally defined by their ability to undergo self-renewal ...

Biologie

Mammosphere Formation Assay from Human Breast Cancer Tissues and Cell Lines

Similar to healthy tissues, many blood and solid malignancies are now thought to be organised hierarchically, with a subset of stem-like cancer cells that self-renew while giving rise to more differentiated progeny. Understanding and targeting these cancer stem cells in breast cancer, which may possess enhanced chemo- and radio-resistance compared to the non-stem tumor bulk, has become an important research area. Markers including CD44, CD24, and ALDH activity can be assessed using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to prospectively isolate cells that display enhanced tumorigenicity when implanted into immunocompromised mice: the mammosphere assay has also become widely used for its ability to retrospectively identify sphere-forming cells that develop from single stem cell-like clones. Here we outline approaches for the appropriate culturing of mammospheres from cell lines or primary patient samples, their passaging, and calculations to estimate sphere forming efficiency (SFE). First we discuss key considerations and pitfalls in the appropriate planning and interpretation of mammosphere experiments.

Floating mammosphere assays can investigate the subset of stem-like breast cancer cells that survive in suspension conditions and show enhanced tumorigenesis when implanted into mice. This protocol provides a convenient in vitro measure of sphere-forming ability, a proxy for in vivo tumorigenesis, while facilitating analysis of the stem-associated transcriptional landscape.

Mammosphere Formation Assay von Menschen Brustkrebs Geweben und Zelllinien

Similar to healthy tissues, many blood and solid malignancies are now thought to be organised hierarchically, with a subset of stem-like cancer cells that ...