This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) (26461185 and 25460137).

NOTE: This study was approved by the appropriate Ethics Committees.
1. Primary Culture of Human Lung Fibroblasts
<ol>
	<li>Collection of lung tissue:
	<ol>
		<li>Obtain human lung tissue samples from the surgical operating room directly. Collect approximately 1 cm3 blocks from cancerous and non-cancerous lung tissue, with the non-cancerous sample collected as far away from the tumor as possible.</li>
		<li>Suspend the samples in Dulbecco&#8217;s modified Eagle&#8217;s medium (DMEM...

<ol>
	<li>Strell, C., Rundqvist, H., Ostman, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fibroblasts-a+key+host+cell+type+in+tumor+initiation,+progression,+and+metastasis.">Fibroblasts-a key host cell type in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis.</a> Ups. J. Med. Sci. 117 (2), 187-195 (2012).</li><li>Augsten, M., H&#228;ggl&#246;f, C., Pe&#241;a, C., Ostman, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+digest+on+the+role+of+the+tumor+microenvironment+in+gastrointestinal+cancers.">A digest on the role of the tumor microenvironment in gastrointestinal cancers.</a> Cancer Microenviron. 3 (1), 167-176 (2010).</li><li>Augsten, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cancer-Associated+Fibroblasts+as+Another+Polarized+Cell+Type+of+the+Tumor+Microenvironment.">Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts as Another Polarized Cell Type of the Tumor Microenvironment.</a> Front. Oncol. 4, 62 (2014).</li><li>Horie, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+human+lung+cancer-associated+fibroblasts+in+three-dimensional+in+vitro+co-culture+model.">Characterization of human lung cancer-associated fibroblasts in three-dimensional in vitro co-culture model.</a> Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 423 (1), 158-163 (2012).</li><li>Ohshima, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=TGF-&#946;+signaling+in+gingival+fibroblast-epithelial+interaction.">TGF-&#946; signaling in gingival fibroblast-epithelial interaction.</a> J. Dent. Res. 89 (11), 1315-1321 (2010).</li><li>Ikebe, D., Wang, B., Suzuki, H., Kato, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Suppression+of+keratinocyte+stratification+by+a+dominant+negative+JunB+mutant+without+blocking+cell+proliferation.">Suppression of keratinocyte stratification by a dominant negative JunB mutant without blocking cell proliferation.</a> Genes Cells. 12 (2), 197-207 (2007).</li><li>Orimo, A., Weinberg, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stromal+fibroblasts+in+cancer:+a+novel+tumor-promoting+cell+type.">Stromal fibroblasts in cancer: a novel tumor-promoting cell type.</a> Cell Cycle. 5 (15), 1597-1601 (2006).</li><li>Paulsson, J., Micke, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prognostic+relevance+of+cancer-associated+fibroblasts+in+human+cancer.">Prognostic relevance of cancer-associated fibroblasts in human cancer.</a> Semin. Cancer Biol. 25, 61-68 (2014).</li><li>Navab, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prognostic+gene-expression+signature+of+carcinoma-associated+fibroblasts+in+non-small+cell+lung+cancer.">Prognostic gene-expression signature of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts in non-small cell lung cancer.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U S A. 108 (17), 7160-7165 (2011).</li><li>Herrera, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+heterogeneity+of+cancer-associated+fibroblasts+from+human+colon+tumors+shows+specific+prognostic+gene+expression+signature.">Functional heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts from human colon tumors shows specific prognostic gene expression signature.</a> Clin. Cancer Res. 19 (21), 5914-5926 (2013).</li><li>H&#228;ggl&#246;f, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stromal+PDGFRbeta+expression+in+prostate+tumors+and+non-malignant+prostate+tissue+predicts+prostate+cancer+survival.">Stromal PDGFRbeta expression in prostate tumors and non-malignant prostate tissue predicts prostate cancer survival.</a> PLoS One. 5 (5), e10747 (2010).</li><li>Saito, R. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Forkhead+box+F1+regulates+tumor-promoting+properties+of+cancer-associated+fibroblasts+in+lung+cancer.">Forkhead box F1 regulates tumor-promoting properties of cancer-associated fibroblasts in lung cancer.</a> Cancer Res. 70 (7), 2644-2654 (2010).</li><li>Kalluri, R., Zeisberg, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fibroblasts+in+cancer.">Fibroblasts in cancer.</a> Nat. Rev. Cancer. 6 (5), 392-401 (2006).</li><li>Calvo, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanotransduction+and+YAP-dependent+matrix+remodelling+is+required+for+the+generation+and+maintenance+of+cancer-associated+fibroblasts.">Mechanotransduction and YAP-dependent matrix remodelling is required for the generation and maintenance of cancer-associated fibroblasts.</a> Nat. Cell Biol. 15 (6), 637-646 (2013).</li><li>Horie, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Histamine+induces+human+lung+fibroblast-mediated+collagen+gel+contraction+via+histamine+H1+receptor.">Histamine induces human lung fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction via histamine H1 receptor.</a> Exp. Lung Res. 40 (5), 222-236 (2014).</li></ol>

CAFs form a major component of the ECM surrounding cancer cells and not only provide a scaffold for the tumor, but also actively participate in tumor development7. Accumulating evidence unravels the impact of CAFs or their related molecules on the eventual prognosis, highlighting the critical roles of CAF-mediated tumor progression8.
In the previous study, we employed outgrowth method to isolate lung CAFs4. In this experiment, the maintenance of tissue section ...

Cancer tissue can be perceived as a type of organ, which evolves through close interactions between the cancer and the tumor stromal microenvironment, composed of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), immune cells, tumor vessels and the extracellular matrix (ECM). CAFs are the major source of soluble factors (cytokines, growth factors and chemokines) that exert mitogenic, pro-migratory and pro-invasive effects on cancer cells. They also stimulate tumor vessel formation and recruit precursor cells, such as bone marrow-derived cells (BMDC). Activated CAFs are involved in the production and remodeling of the ECM, thereby promoting the growth and spread of cancer cells1. CAFs also provide a niche that facilitates tumor cell colonization and metastasis and are capable of conferring stem cell phenotypes onto neighboring cancer cells. Pathological observations suggest that stromal reactions or fibrotic changes in cancer tissues are indicative of a poor prognosis. Recent studies have also demonstrated that tumor stromal features, such as the gene signature, can predict patient prognosis. Furthermore, CAF-derived factors can modulate sensitivity to chemotherapy, highlighting the role of CAFs in determining drug sensitivity and resistance2.
As CAFs play a multifaceted role in the promotion of tumor progression through signaling pathways that mediate interactions between CAFs and different cell types within the tumor microenvironment, they have attracted increasing attention as novel targets for cancer therapies. The heterogeneity of the cell populations within the cancer microenvironment presents an obstacle for targeting CAFs. Several markers for CAFs have been proposed, such as &#945;-smooth muscle actin (&#945;-SMA), fibroblast activation protein (FAP), and fibroblast specific proten-1 (FSP-1: also called S100A4); however, these molecular markers are not specific for distinguishing CAFs from other cells present in non-cancerous tissues3. Therefore, further studies are needed to obtain more knowledge about the specific properties of CAFs. To this end, it is informative to characterize primary cultured CAFs compared with patient-matched normal fibroblasts.
Recently, analyses on patient-derived CAFs have been reported in several cancer types, revealing unique gene expression patterns and cell behaviors compared with fibroblasts derived from non-cancerous tissues. Using isolated CAFs from human lung cancer tissues, we developed a three-dimensional co-culture method, enabling us to evaluate the properties of lung CAFs. In this model, we investigated the effects of the CAFs on lung cancer cell invasion, proliferation and collagen gel contraction, which experimentally recapitulated the tumor-promoting roles of lung CAFs4.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1035">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:267px;">Name</td>
			<td style="width:297px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:471px;">Catalog Number</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:267px;">DMEM</td>
			<td style="width:297px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:471px;">D5796</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:267px;">FBS</td>
			<td style="width:297px;">GIBCO</td>
			<td style="width:471px;">10437</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:267px;">Collagen type IA</td>
			<td style="width:297px;">Nitta gelatin Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:471px;">CELL-1A</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:267px;">Reconstitution buffer</td>
			<td style="width:297px;">Nitta gelatin Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:471px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:267px;">Cover slip</td>
			<td style="width:297px;">NUNC</td>
			<td style="width:471px;">174934</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:267px;">Silicone grease</td>
			<td style="width:297px;">Dow Corning Toray</td>
			<td style="width:471px;">High vacuum grease</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:267px;">Dispase I</td>
			<td style="width:297px;">WAKO</td>
			<td style="width:471px;">386-02271</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:267px;">6-well plate</td>
			<td style="width:297px;">BD Falcon</td>
			<td style="width:471px;">353046</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:267px;">Cell strainer (70 &#956;m)</td>
			<td style="width:297px;">BD Falcon</td>
			<td style="width:471px;">352350</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

three-dimensional co-culture model for tumor-stromal interaction

Cancer progression (initiation, growth, invasion and metastasis) occurs through interactions between malignant cells and the surrounding tumor stromal cells. The tumor microenvironment is comprised of a variety of cell types, such as fibroblasts, immune cells, vascular endothelial cells, pericytes and bone-marrow-derived cells, embedded in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have a pro-tumorigenic role through the secretion of soluble factors, angiogenesis and ECM remodeling. The experimental models for cancer cell survival, proliferation, migration, and invasion have mostly relied on two-dimensional monocellular and monolayer tissue cultures or Boyden chamber assays. However, these experiments do not precisely reflect the physiological or pathological conditions in a diseased organ. To gain a better understanding of tumor stromal or tumor matrix interactions, multicellular and three-dimensional cultures provide more powerful tools for investigating intercellular communication and ECM-dependent modulation of cancer cell behavior. As a platform for this type of study, we present an experimental model in which cancer cells are cultured on collagen gels embedded with primary cultures of CAFs.

This co-culture method, mimicking the tumor microenvironment, is a useful tool to investigate the interactions between cancer cells and fibroblasts embedded in collagen gels. In the previous study, three parameters were evaluated in this experimental model: collagen gel contraction, cancer cell invasion and morphological change. Cancer cell proliferation was also estimated using Ki67 immunostaining4. Lung tissue samples were collected from cancerous and non-cancerous sections of a resected lung lobe (F...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Three-dimensional Co-culture Model for Tumor-stromal Interaction at JoVE.com

Three-dimensional Co-culture Model for Tumor-stromal Interaction

Here we present a protocol to co-culture in three-dimensions, which is useful for investigating multicellular interactions and extracellular matrix-dependent modulation of cancer cell behavior. In this experimental model, cancer cells are cultured on collagen gels embedded with human cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Cancer progression (initiation, growth, invasion and metastasis) occurs through interactions between malignant cells and the surrounding tumor stromal ...

three-dimensional-co-culture-model-for-tumor-stromal-interaction

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17.2K vistas.  The University of Tokyo. Here we present a protocol to co-culture in three-dimensions, which is useful for investigating multicellular interactions and extracellular matrix-dependent modulation of cancer cell behavior. In this experimental model, cancer cells are cultured on collagen gels embedded with human cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Video: Three-dimensional Co-culture Model for Tumor-stromal Interaction

Here we present a protocol to co-culture in three-dimensions, which is useful for investigating multicellular interactions and extracellular matrix-dependent modulation of cancer cell behavior. In this experimental model, cancer cells are cultured on collagen gels embedded with human cancer-associated...

a three-dimensional spheroid model to investigate the tumor-stromal interaction in hepatocellular carcinoma

A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Comprehensive in vitro models that faithfully recapitulate the relevant human disease are lacking. The current study presents three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroid creation and culture, a reliable in vitro tool to study the tumor-stromal interaction in human hepatocellular...

a three-dimensional co-culture model of infiltrating t cells in tumor spheroids

Use a light microscope to check whether any spheroids have been aspirated, and holding the P200 loaded pipette about 1/2 a centimeter above each cast, carefully seed the T cells onto the casts in a dropwise fashion, without dislodging the spheroids. When all of the casts have been seeded, carefully return the plate to the cell culture incubator for 15 minutes, before adding fresh cell culture medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum to the outside of each cast for another 48-hour...

A Three-Dimensional Co-culture Model of Infiltrating T Cells in Tumor Spheroids

This video demonstrates a method to establish a three-dimensional tumor spheroid and T cell co-culture. An agarose cast with microwells containing tumor spheroids is prepared, followed by the addition of T cells. After incubation, this setup allows studying the interaction of T cells with tumor spheroids in a controlled three-dimensional...

growing desmoplastic three-dimensional pancreatic cancer spheroids from co-culture

Author Spotlight: Validating Cancer Therapy Responses with Desmoplastic Spheroid Models

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the toughest cancers to treat. Therefore, it is critical that pre-clinical models evaluating treatment efficacy are reproducible and clinically relevant. This protocol describes a simple co-culture procedure to generate reproducible, clinically relevant desmoplastic...

Growing Desmoplastic Three-Dimensional Pancreatic Cancer Spheroids from Co-Culture

a novel stromal fibroblast-modulated 3d tumor spheroid model for studying tumor-stroma interaction and drug discovery

A Novel Stromal Fibroblast-Modulated 3D Tumor Spheroid Model for Studying Tumor-Stroma Interaction and Drug Discovery

A novel three-dimensional spheroid model based on the heterotypic interaction of tumor cells and stromal fibroblasts is established. Here, we present coculture of tumor cells and stromal fibroblasts, time-lapse imaging, and confocal microscopy to visualize the formation of spheroids. This three-dimensional model offers a pertinent platform to study tumor-stroma interactions and test cancer...

three-dimensional cell culture model for measuring the effects of interstitial fluid flow on tumor cell invasion

Three-dimensional Cell Culture Model for Measuring the Effects of Interstitial Fluid Flow on Tumor Cell Invasion

Interstitial fluid flow is elevated in solid tumors and can modulate tumor cell invasion. Here we describe a technique to apply interstitial fluid flow to cells embedded in a matrix and then measure its effects on cell invasion. This technique can be easily adapted to study other...

isolation of mammary epithelial cells from three-dimensional mixed-cell spheroid co-culture

Isolation of Mammary Epithelial Cells from Three-dimensional Mixed-cell Spheroid Co-culture

A simple method is described for analyzing effects of tissue fibroblasts on associated epithelial cells.  The combination of this method and three-dimensional tissue culture can facilitate analysis of cells after isolation from 3D.  The technique is applicable to cells of varying malignant potential, allowing systematic study of effects of tumor-associated stroma on tumor...

three-dimensional culture assay to explore cancer cell invasiveness and satellite tumor formation

Three-Dimensional Culture Assay to Explore Cancer Cell Invasiveness and Satellite Tumor Formation

Cancer cells are embedded in a collagen gel and then sandwiched in an acellular fibrin gel to generate a 3D culture system in which the invasiveness and formation of satellite tumors may be...

three-dimensional (3d) tumor spheroid invasion assay

Three-Dimensional 3D Tumor Spheroid Invasion Assay

Invasion of surrounding normal tissues is a defining characteristic of malignant tumors. We provide here a simple, semi-automated micro-plate assay of invasion into a natural 3D biomatrix that has been exemplified with a number of models of advanced human...

Three-Dimensional (3D) Tumor Spheroid Invasion Assay

generation of high-throughput three-dimensional tumor spheroids for drug screening

Generation of High-Throughput Three-Dimensional Tumor Spheroids for Drug Screening

Across a wide variety of disease indications, more physiologically relevant models are being developed and implemented into drug discovery programs. The new model system described here demonstrates how three-dimensional tumor spheroids can be cultured and screened in a high-throughput 1536-well plate-based system to search for new oncology...

human neuroendocrine tumor cell lines as a three-dimensional model for the study of human neuroendocrine tumor therapy

Human Neuroendocrine Tumor Cell Lines as a Three-Dimensional Model for the Study of Human Neuroendocrine Tumor Therapy

We present a simple agarose overlay platform to grow 3D multicellular spheroids using neuroendocrine cancer cell lines. This method provides a very convenient way to examine the effect of therapeutic drugs on the neuroendocrine tumor cells. It could also help us establish human neuroendocrine tumor spheroids for cancer...

evaluating the angiogenetic properties of ovarian cancer stem-like cells using the three-dimensional co-culture system, nico-1

Evaluating the Angiogenetic Properties of Ovarian Cancer Stem-Like Cells using the Three-Dimensional Co-Culture System, NICO-1

Ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSC) are responsible for cancer initiation, recurrence, therapeutic resistance, and metastasis. The OCSC vascular niche is considered to promote self-renewal of OCSCs, leading to chemoresistance. This protocol provides the basis for establishing a reproducible OCSC vascular niche model in...

alginate hydrogels for three-dimensional organ culture of ovaries and oviducts

Alginate Hydrogels for Three-Dimensional Organ Culture of Ovaries and Oviducts

Culture of normal cells in their three-dimensional context represents an alternative method to study early events required for cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. This method is used to grow normal ovarian and oviductal cells to study early events in ovarian cancer...

three-dimensional bone extracellular matrix model for osteosarcoma

Three-Dimensional Bone Extracellular Matrix Model for Osteosarcoma

The bone extracellular matrix (BEM) model for osteosarcoma (OS) is well established and shown here. It can be used as a suitable scaffold for mimicking primary tumor growth in vitro and providing an ideal model for studying the histologic and cytogenic heterogeneity of...

establishing a three-dimensional co-culture model of murine dorsal root ganglia and cancer cells: an in vitro model to study perineural cancer cell invasion

In this video, we demonstrate the procedure for developing an in vitro perineural cancer cell invasion model by co-culturing mouse dorsal root ganglion and neurotropic cancer cells. The model can be utilized to conduct cancer assays, producing rapid and reproducible...

Establishing a Three-dimensional Co-culture Model of Murine Dorsal Root Ganglia and Cancer Cells: An In Vitro Model to Study Perineural Cancer Cell Invasion

establishing the 3d stromal-endothelial cell co-culture

Establishing the 3D Stromal-Endothelial Cell Co-Culture  

three-dimensional adipocyte culture as a model to study cachexia-induced white adipose tissue remodeling

Three-Dimensional Adipocyte Culture as a Model to Study Cachexia-Induced White Adipose Tissue Remodeling

This protocol describes a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic printing culture system that permits dissection of white adipose tissue (WAT) remodeling induced by a conditioned medium from cancer cells. Using a 3D culture system of UCP1+ adipocytes that express a green fluorescent protein (GFP) allows the study of beige adipocytes contributing to adipose tissue...

a three-dimensional tissue culture model to study primary human bone marrow and its malignancies

A Three-dimensional Tissue Culture Model to Study Primary Human Bone Marrow and its Malignancies

In standard culture methods cells are taken out of their physiological environment and grown on the plastic surface of a dish. To study the behavior of primary human bone marrow cells we created a 3-D culture system where cells are grown under conditions recapitulating the native microenvironment of the...

Experimental Generation of Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) from Human Mammary Fibroblasts

Carcinomas are complex tissues comprised of neoplastic cells and a non-cancerous compartment referred to as the 'stroma'. The stroma consists of extracellular matrix (ECM) and a variety of mesenchymal cells, including fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes and leukocytes 1-3.
The tumour-associated stroma is responsive to substantial paracrine signals released by neighbouring carcinoma cells. During the disease process, the stroma often becomes populated by carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) including large numbers of myofibroblasts. These cells have previously been extracted from many different types of human carcinomas for their in vitro culture. A subpopulation of CAFs is distinguishable through their up-regulation of &alpha;-smooth muscle actin (&alpha;-SMA) expression4,5. These cells are a hallmark of 'activated fibroblasts' that share similar properties with myofibroblasts commonly observed in injured and fibrotic tissues 6. The presence of this myofibroblastic CAF subset is highly related to high-grade malignancies and associated with poor prognoses in patients.
Many laboratories, including our own, have shown that CAFs, when injected with carcinoma cells into immunodeficient mice, are capable of substantially promoting tumourigenesis 7-10. CAFs prepared from carcinoma patients, however, frequently undergo senescence during propagation in culture limiting the extensiveness of their use throughout ongoing experimentation. To overcome this difficulty, we developed a novel technique to experimentally generate immortalised human mammary CAF cell lines (exp-CAFs) from human mammary fibroblasts, using a coimplantation breast tumour xenograft model.
In order to generate exp-CAFs, parental human mammary fibroblasts, obtained from the reduction mammoplasty tissue, were first immortalised with hTERT, the catalytic subunit of the telomerase holoenzyme, and engineered to express GFP and a puromycin resistance gene. These cells were coimplanted with MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells expressing an activated ras oncogene (MCF-7-ras cells) into a mouse xenograft. After a period of incubation in vivo, the initially injected human mammary fibroblasts were extracted from the tumour xenografts on the basis of their puromycin resistance 11.
We observed that the resident human mammary fibroblasts have differentiated, adopting a myofibroblastic phenotype and acquired tumour-promoting properties during the course of tumour progression. Importantly, these cells, defined as exp-CAFs, closely mimic the tumour-promoting myofibroblastic phenotype of CAFs isolated from breast carcinomas dissected from patients. Our tumour xenograft-derived exp-CAFs therefore provide an effective model to study the biology of CAFs in human breast carcinomas. The described protocol may also be extended for generating and characterising various CAF populations derived from other types of human carcinomas.

Experimental Generation of Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblasts CAFs from Human Mammary Fibroblasts

Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) rich in myofibroblasts present within the tumour stroma, play a major role in driving tumour progression. We developed a coimplantation tumour xengraft model for experimentally generating CAFs from human mammary fibroblasts. The protocol describes how to establish CAF myofibroblasts that acquire an ability to promote tumourigenesis.

Carcinomas are complex tissues comprised of neoplastic cells and a non-cancerous compartment referred to as the 'stroma'. The stroma consists of ...

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare tumors, with an incidence of two per 100,&#x200A;000 individuals per year, and they account for 0.5% of all human malignancies.1 Other than surgery for the minority of patients who present with localized disease, there is little or no survival benefit of systemic therapy. Therefore, there is a great need to better understand the biology of NETs, and in particular define new therapeutic targets for patients with nonresectable or metastatic neuroendocrine tumors. 3D cell culture is becoming a popular method for drug screening due to its relevance in modeling the in vivo tumor tissue organization and microenvironment.2,3 The 3D multicellular spheroids could provide valuable information in a more timely and less expensive manner than directly proceeding from 2D cell culture experiments to animal (murine) models.
To facilitate the discovery of new therapeutics for NET patients, we have developed an in vitro 3D multicellular spheroids model using the human NET cell lines. The NET cells are plated in a non-adhesive agarose-coated 24-well plate and incubated under physiological conditions (5% CO2, 37 &deg;C) with a very slow agitation for 16-24 hr after plating. The cells form multicellular spheroids starting on the 3rd or 4th day. The spheroids become more spherical by the 6th day, at which point the drug treatments are initiated. The efficacy of the drug treatments on the NET spheroids is monitored based on the morphology, shape and size of the spheroids with a phase-contrast light microscope. The size of the spheroids is estimated automatically using a custom-developed MATLAB program based on an active contour algorithm. Further, we demonstrate a simple method to process the HistoGel embedding on these 3D spheroids, allowing the use of standard histological and immunohistochemical techniques. 
This is the first report on generating 3D spheroids using NET cell lines to examine the effect of therapeutic drugs. We have also performed histology on these 3D spheroids, and displayed an example of a single drug's effect on growth and proliferation of the NET spheroids. Our results support that the NET spheroids are valuable for further studies of NET biology and drug development.

We present a simple agarose overlay platform to grow 3D multicellular spheroids using neuroendocrine cancer cell lines. This method provides a very convenient way to examine the effect of therapeutic drugs on the neuroendocrine tumor cells. It could also help us establish human neuroendocrine tumor spheroids for cancer therapy.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare tumors, with an incidence of two per 100,&#x200A;000 individuals per year, and they account for 0.5% of all human ...

Tissue culture has been an invaluable tool to study many aspects of cell function, from normal development to disease. Conventional cell culture methods rely on the ability of cells either to attach to a solid substratum of a tissue culture dish or to grow in suspension in liquid medium. Multiple immortal cell lines have been created and grown using such approaches, however, these methods frequently fail when primary cells need to be grown ex vivo. Such failure has been attributed to the absence of the appropriate extracellular matrix components of the tissue microenvironment from the standard systems where tissue culture plastic is used as a surface for cell growth. Extracellular matrix is an integral component of the tissue microenvironment and its presence is crucial for the maintenance of physiological functions such as cell polarization, survival, and proliferation. Here we present a 3-dimensional tissue culture method where primary bone marrow cells are grown in extracellular matrix formulated to recapitulate the microenvironment of the human bone (rBM system). Embedded in the extracellular matrix, cells are supplied with nutrients through the medium supplemented with human plasma, thus providing a comprehensive system where cell survival and proliferation can be sustained for up to 30 days while maintaining the cellular composition of the primary tissue. Using the rBM system we have successfully grown primary bone marrow cells from normal donors and patients with amyloidosis, and various hematological malignancies. The rBM system allows for direct, in-matrix real time visualization of the cell behavior and evaluation of preclinical efficacy of novel therapeutics. Moreover, cells can be isolated from the rBM and subsequently used for in vivo transplantation, cell sorting, flow cytometry, and nucleic acid and protein analysis. Taken together, the rBM method provides a reliable system for the growth of primary bone marrow cells under physiological conditions.

In standard culture methods cells are taken out of their physiological environment and grown on the plastic surface of a dish. To study the behavior of primary human bone marrow cells we created a 3-D culture system where cells are grown under conditions recapitulating the native microenvironment of the tissue.

Tissue culture has been an invaluable tool to study many aspects of cell function, from normal development to disease. Conventional cell culture methods ...

Quantification of Breast Cancer Cell Invasiveness Using a Three-dimensional (3D) Model

It is now well known that the cellular and tissue microenvironment are critical regulators influencing tumor initiation and progression. Moreover, the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been demonstrated to be a critical regulator of cell behavior in culture and homeostasis in vivo. The current approach of culturing cells on two-dimensional (2D), plastic surfaces results in the disturbance and loss of complex interactions between cells and their microenvironment. Through the use of three-dimensional (3D) culture assays, the conditions for cell-microenvironment interaction are established resembling the in vivo microenvironment. This article provides a detailed methodology to grow breast cancer cells in a 3D basement membrane protein matrix, exemplifying the potential of 3D culture in the assessment of cell invasion into the surrounding environment. In addition, we discuss how these 3D assays have the potential to examine the loss of signaling molecules that regulate epithelial morphology by immunostaining procedures. These studies aid to identify important mechanistic details into the processes regulating invasion, required for the spread of breast cancer.

Quantification of Breast Cancer Cell Invasiveness Using a Three-dimensional 3D Model

This article provides detailed methodologies for the use of three-dimensional (3D) assays to quantify breast cancer cell invasion. Specifically, we discuss the procedures required to set up such assays, quantification, and data analysis, as well as methods to examine the loss of membrane integrity that occurs when cells invade.

It is now well known that the cellular and tissue microenvironment are critical regulators influencing tumor initiation and progression. Moreover, the ...

Invasion of surrounding normal tissues is generally considered to be a key hallmark of malignant (as opposed to benign) tumors. For some cancers in particular (e.g., brain tumors such as glioblastoma multiforme and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck &#8211; SCCHN) it is a cause of severe morbidity and can be life-threatening even in the absence of distant metastases. In addition, cancers which have relapsed following treatment unfortunately often present with a more aggressive phenotype. Therefore, there is an opportunity to target the process of invasion to provide novel therapies that could be complementary to standard anti-proliferative agents. Until now, this strategy has been hampered by the lack of robust, reproducible assays suitable for a detailed analysis of invasion and for drug screening. Here we provide a simple micro-plate method (based on uniform, self-assembling 3D tumor spheroids) which has great potential for such studies. We exemplify the assay platform using a human glioblastoma cell line and also an SCCHN model where the development of resistance against targeted epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors is associated with enhanced matrix-invasive potential. We also provide two alternative methods of semi-automated quantification: one using an imaging cytometer and a second which simply requires standard microscopy and image capture with digital image analysis.

Invasion of surrounding normal tissues is a defining characteristic of malignant tumors. We provide here a simple, semi-automated micro-plate assay of invasion into a natural 3D biomatrix that has been exemplified with a number of models of advanced human cancers.

Invasion of surrounding normal tissues is generally considered to be a key hallmark of malignant (as opposed to benign) tumors. For some cancers in ...

Three-dimensional Alginate-bead Culture of Human Pituitary Adenoma Cells

A three-dimensional culture method is described in which primary pituitary adenoma cells are grown in alginate beads. Alginate is a polymer derived from brown sea algae. Briefly, the tumor tissue is cut into small pieces and submitted to an enzymatic digestion with collagenase and trypsin. Next, a cell suspension is obtained. The tumor cell suspension is mixed with 1.2% sodium alginate and dropped into a CaCl2 solution, and the alginate/cell suspension is gelled on contact with the CaCl2 to form spherical beads. The cells embedded in the alginate beads are supplied with nutrients provided by the culture media enriched with 20% FBS. Three-dimensional culture in alginate beads maintains the viability of adenoma cells for long periods of time, up to four months. Moreover, the cells can be liberated from the alginate by washing the beads with sodium citrate and seeded on glass coverslips for further immunocytochemical analyses. The use of a cell culture model allows for the fixation and visualization of the actin cytoskeleton with minimal disorganization. In summary, alginate beads provide a reliable culture system for the maintenance of pituitary adenoma cells.

Three-dimensional culture in alginate beads, due to its simplicity and reproducibility, was chosen to maintain the pituitary adenoma cells. The procedures included an initial enzymatic digestion and mechanical dissociation of the tumor tissue, and the subsequent cell suspension was encapsulated in alginate beads.

A three-dimensional culture method is described in which primary pituitary adenoma cells are grown in alginate beads. Alginate is a polymer derived from ...

Three-Dimensional Printing of a Complex Aortic Anomaly

Complex congenital aortic anomalies include diverse types of malformations that may be clinically asymptomatic or present with respiratory or esophageal symptoms. These anomalies may be associated with other congenital heart diseases. It is hard to identify the accurate anatomic vessel location from two-dimensional imaging data, such as computed tomography. As an additive manufacturing method, three-dimensional (3-D) printing can covert the acquired imaging data into 3-D physical models. This protocol describes the procedure for modeling the volumetric DICOM imaging into 3-D data and printing it as an anatomically realistic 3-D model. Using this model, surgeons can identify the vessel location of complex aortic anomalies, which is helpful for pre-operative planning and intra-operative guidance.

Here, we present a protocol to use three dimensional printed models for pre-operative planning and intra-operative reorganization of complicated vascular locations when handling a congenital aortic anomaly.

Complex congenital aortic anomalies include diverse types of malformations that may be clinically asymptomatic or present with respiratory or esophageal ...

Three-Dimensional Printing Guide Template Assisted Percutaneous Vertebroplasty (PVP)

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is considered an effective treatment for the back pain caused by osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. The accuracy of PVP mainly depends on the surgeons&#39; experience and multiple fluoroscopes during a traditional procedure. Puncture related complications were reported all over the world. To make the surgical procedure more precise and decrease the rate of puncture-related complications, our team applied a three-dimensional printing guide template to PVP to modify the traditional procedure. This protocol introduces how to model target vertebrae DICOM imaging data into three-dimensions in the software, how to simulate operation in this 3-D model, and how to use all of the surgical data to reconstruct a patient specific template for application. Using this template, surgeons can identify suitable puncture points accurately to improve the accuracy of the operation. The whole protocol includes: 1) diagnosis of the osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture; 2) acquisition of CT imaging of the target vertebra; 3) simulation of the operation in the software; 4) design and fabrication of the 3-D printing guide template; and 5) application of the template into an operation procedure.

Three-Dimensional Printing Guide Template Assisted Percutaneous Vertebroplasty PVP

Herein, we present a three-dimensional printing guide template for percutaneous vertebraplasty. A patient with a T11 vertebral compression fracture was selected as a case study.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is considered an effective treatment for the back pain caused by osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. The ...

High-Resolution Three-Dimensional Imaging of the Footpad Vasculature in a Murine Hindlimb Gangrene Model

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a significant cause of morbidity resulting from chronic exposure to atherosclerotic risk factors. Patients suffering from its most severe form, chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), face substantial impairments to daily living, including chronic pain, limited walking distance without pain, and nonhealing wounds. Preclinical models have been developed in various animals to study PAD, but mouse hindlimb ischemia remains the most widely used. There can be significant variation in response to ischemic insult in these models depending on the mouse strain used and the site, number, and means of arterial disruption. This protocol describes a unique method combining femoral artery and vein electrocoagulation with the administration of a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor to reliably induce footpad gangrene in Friend Virus B (FVB) mice that resembles the tissue loss of CLTI. While traditional means of assessing reperfusion such as laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) are still recommended, intracardiac perfusion of the lipophilic dye 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) is used to label the vasculature. Subsequent whole-mount confocal laser scanning microscopy allows for high-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of footpad vascular networks that complements traditional means of assessing reperfusion in hindlimb ischemia models.

The present protocol describes a unique, clinically relevant model of peripheral arterial disease that combines femoral artery and vein electrocoagulation with the administration of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor to induce hindlimb gangrene in FVB mice. Intracardiac DiI perfusion is then used for high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging of the footpad vasculature.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a significant cause of morbidity resulting from chronic exposure to atherosclerotic risk factors. Patients suffering ...

Guided Endodontics: Three-Dimensional Planning and Template-Aided Preparation of Endodontic Access Cavities

Pulp canal obliterations (PCO) are often a consequence of dental trauma, such as luxation injuries. Even though dentin apposition is a sign of vital pulp, pulpitis or apical periodontitis may develop in the long term. Root canal treatment of teeth with severe PCO and pulpal or periapical pathosis is challenging for general practitioners and even for well-equipped endodontic specialists. To ensure detection of the calcified root canal and avoid excessive loss of tooth structure or root perforation, static navigation using templates ("Guided Endodontics") was introduced a few years ago. The general workflow includes three-dimensional imaging using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), a digital surface scan, and superimposition of both in a planning software. This is followed by virtual planning of the access cavity and the design of a template that will guide the drill to the desired target point. To do this, a true-to-scale virtual image of the drill must be placed in a way that the tip of the drill reaches the orifice of the calcified root canal. Once the template has been fabricated using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) or a 3D printer, guided preparation of the access cavity can be performed clinically. For research purposes, a postoperative CBCT image can be used to quantify the accuracy of the access cavity performed. This work aims to present the technique of static guided endodontics from imaging to clinical implementation.

Guided endodontics describes a template-aided approach for access cavity preparation. The procedure requires cone-beam computed tomography and a surface scan to produce a template. An incorporated sleeve guides the drill to the target point. This allows the preparation of minimally invasive endodontic access cavities in calcified teeth.

Pulp canal obliterations (PCO) are often a consequence of dental trauma, such as luxation injuries. Even though dentin apposition is a sign of vital pulp, ...