Multiplexed Live-Cell Imaging for Drug Responses in Patient-Derived Organoid Models of Cancer

Summary

Patient-derived tumor organoids are a sophisticated model system for basic and translational research. This methods article details the use of multiplexed fluorescent live-cell imaging for simultaneous kinetic assessment of different organoid phenotypes.

Abstract

Patient-derived organoid (PDO) models of cancer are a multifunctional research system that better recapitulates human disease as compared to cancer cell lines. PDO models can be generated by culturing patient tumor cells in extracellular basement membrane extracts (BME) and plating them as three-dimensional domes. However, commercially available reagents that have been optimized for phenotypic assays in monolayer cultures often are not compatible with BME. Herein, we describe a method to plate PDO models and assess drug effects using an automated live-cell imaging system. In addition, we apply fluorescent dyes that are compatible with kinetic measurements to quantify cell health and apoptosis simultaneously. Image capture can be customized to occur at regular time intervals over several days. Users can analyze drug effects in individual Z-plane images or a Z Projection of serial images from multiple focal planes. Using masking, specific parameters of interest are calculated, such as PDO number, area, and fluorescence intensity. We provide proof-of-concept data demonstrating the effect of cytotoxic agents on cell health, apoptosis, and viability. This automated kinetic imaging platform can be expanded to other phenotypic readouts to understand diverse therapeutic effects in PDO models of cancer.

Introduction

Patient-derived tumor organoids (PDOs) are rapidly emerging as a robust model system to study cancer development and therapeutic responses. PDOs are three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems that recapitulate the complex genomic profile and architecture of the primary tumor^1,2. Unlike traditional two-dimensional (2D) cultures of immortalized cancer cell lines, PDOs capture and maintain intratumoral heterogeneity^3,4, making them a valuable tool for both mechanistic and translational research. Although PDOs are becoming an increasingly popular model sy....

Protocol

Studies using human tumor specimens were reviewed and approved by the University of Iowa Institutional Review Board (IRB), protocol #201809807, and performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects participating in the study. Inclusion criteria include a diagnosis of cancer and the availability of tumor specimens.

1. Plating intact PDOs in a 96-well plate

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Discussion

PDO cultures are becoming an increasingly popular in vitro model system due to their ability to reflect cellular responses and behaviors². Significant advances have been made in PDO generation, culture, and expansion techniques, yet methods to analyze therapeutic responses have lagged. Commercially available 3D viability kits are lytic endpoint assays, missing out on potentially valuable kinetic response data and limiting subsequent analyses by other methods⁸. Emerging stud.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
1.5 mL microcentrfuge tube	Dot Scientific Inc	1008113
15 mL conical centrifuge tube	Sarstedt	62.554.100
554 NM LED Cube	Agilent	1225012
96-well plate	Corning Costar	3596	Prewarmed to 37 °C
96-well plate	Agilent	204626-100	Prewarmed to 37 °C
A83-01	Tocris	2939	Final concentration is 500 nM (component of organoid culture media)
Advanced DMEM/F-12	Gibco	12634-010	component of organoid culture media
B27 Supplement	Gibco	17504044	Final concentration is 1x (component of organoid culture media)
BioTek BioSpa 8 Automated Incubator	Agilent	BIOSPAG-SN	Tabletop incubator; BioSpa OnDemand scheduling software comunicates with Gen5 to transfer plates between the BioSpa and the Cytation 5 for imaging (this protocol uses version 1.01.10)
BioTek Cytation 5 Cell Imaging Multimode Reader	Agilent	CYT5PW-SN	Plate reader; Gen5 software is used for this device (this protocol uses version 3.12.08)
Cultrex UltiMatrix Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Extract	R&D Systems	BME001-10
Daunorubicin HCl	Sigma-Aldrich	S3035	Reconstituted in DMSO
Dimethyl sulfoxide	Sigma-Aldrich	D2438
EDTA (0.5 M)	Thermo Fisher	AM9260G
Forskolin	Tocris	1099	Final concentration is 10 µM (component of organoid culture media)
Glutamax	Gibco	35050-061	Final concentration is 1x (component of organoid culture media)
HEPES	Gibco	15630-080	Final concentration is 10 mM (component of organoid culture media)
Human EGF, Animal-Free Recombinant Protein	Gibco	AF-100-15-1MG	Final concentration is 0.5 ng/mL (component of organoid culture media)
Human FGF-10 Recombinant Protein	Gibco	100-26-1MG	Final concentration is 10 ng/mL (component of organoid culture media)
Human R-Spondin 1 Recombinant Protein	Gibco	120-38-5UG	Final concentration is 250 ng/mL (component of organoid culture media)
Hydrocortisone Stock Solution	StemCell Technologies	7926	Final concentration is 500 ng/mL (component of organoid culture media)
Imaging Filter Cube- GFP	Agilent	1225101
Imaging Filter Cube- TRITC	Agilent	1225125
Imaging LED GFP/CFP	Agilent	1225001
Incucyte Annexin V Red Dye	Sartorius	4641	Reconstituted in organoid culture media
Incucyte Cytotox Green Dye	Sartorius	4633	DMSO solution
N-Acetyl-L-cysteine	Sigma-Aldrich	A7250	Final concentration is 1.25 mM (component of organoid culture media)
Nexcelom Bioscience ViaStain AOPI Staining Solution	Fisher-Scientific	13366169	Add 1:50 volume
Nicotinamide	Sigma-Aldrich	N0636	Final concentration is 10 mM (component of organoid culture media)
Noggin	R&D Systems	6057-NG	Final concentration is 100 ng/mL (component of organoid culture media)
Penicillin-Streptomycin	Gibco	15140122	Final concentration is 10 units/mL (component of organoid culture media)
Phosphate Buffered Saline (1x)	Gibco	14190-144
Primocin	InvivoGen	ant-pm-05	Final concentration is 100 µg/mL (component of organoid culture media)
Recombinant Human Heregulinβ-1	Pepro Tech	100-03	Final concentration is 37.5 ng/mL (component of organoid culture media)
Staurosporine solution from Streptomyces sp.	Sigma-Aldrich	S6942
TrypLE Express	Life Technologies	12604013
Y-27632, CAS 331752-47-7	Sigma-Aldrich	688000	Final concentration is 5 µM (component of organoid culture media)
β-Estradiol	Sigma-Aldrich	E2758	Final concentration is 100 nM (component of organoid culture media)