This work was supported by the Hariri Family Foundation and the TJ Martell Foundation.

1. Harvesting and Processing of Human Prostate Cancer Tissue from Surgical Specimens
<ol>
	<li>Prepare two 50&#160;ml&#160;polystyrene conical tubes containing 15 ml&#160;of Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin.</li>
	<li>Pathology service personnel harvest primary and metastatic prostate cancer samples from prostatectomy and palliative surgery specimens, respectively, under an Institutional Review Board approved protoco...

<ol>
	<li>Hanahan, D., 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=Hallmarks+of+cancer:+the+next+generation.">Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation.</a> Cell. 144, 646-674 (2011).</li><li>Magee, J. A., Piskounova, E., Morrison, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cancer+stem+cells:+impact,+heterogeneity,+and+uncertainty.">Cancer stem cells: impact, heterogeneity, and uncertainty.</a> Cancer Cell. 21, 283-296 (2012).</li><li>Nguyen, L. V., Vanner, R., Dirks, P., Eaves, C. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cancer+stem+cells:+an+evolving+concept.">Cancer stem cells: an evolving concept.</a> Nat. Rev. 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J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cancer+stem+cells:+current+status+and+evolving+complexities.">Cancer stem cells: current status and evolving complexities.</a> Cell Stem Cell. 10, 717-728 (2012).</li><li>Lapidot, T., 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=A+cell+initiating+human+acute+myeloid+leukaemia+after+transplantation+into+SCID+mice.">A cell initiating human acute myeloid leukaemia after transplantation into SCID mice.</a> Nature. 367, 645-648 (1994).</li><li>Al-Hajj, M., Wicha, M. S., Benito-Hernandez, A., Morrison, S. J., Clarke, M. 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This protocol describes the isolation of CSCs from fresh human prostate cancer tissues. Several important considerations influence the successful outcome of this protocol.
The recovery of high numbers of viable prostate cancer cells is dependent on careful gross assessment of surgical samples. In our experience, the successful isolation of tumorigenic prostate cells is best assured when macroscopic tumor nodules are observed and processed10.
However, nowa...

Intratumoral heterogeneity is considered to be a hallmark of cancer1. Indeed, several mechanisms of intratumoral heterogeneity have been described, including genetic mutation and interactions with the microenvironment. In addition, some cancers may contain a cellular hierarchy with a subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that exhibits the properties of tumor-initiating capacity and self-renewal in serial transplantation assays2-5. Initially described in hematological6, breast7, and brain8 malignancies, CSCs have also been studied in prostate cancer9-12 as well as other tumor types2-5.
CSCs are generally considered a cellular fraction within a heterogeneous population2-5. Therefore, the functional and molecular characterization of CSCs is contingent upon their enrichment from bulk populations. Accordingly, during the last two decades several methodologies of CSC enrichment have been devised which typically involve the separation of labeled populations by flow cytometry. In addition, a significant consideration in the study of CSCs is that the hierarchical organization of human tissues may be disrupted by experimental manipulations such as serial passaging in culture or immunodeficient mice. As a result, the direct isolation of CSCs from human tissues has emerged as an important methodology in the CSC field.
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in the United States and around the world13. Therefore, the isolation and biological characterization of prostate CSCs is of significant interest. Prostate CSCs have previously been enriched from cell lines, patient derived xenografts, and low passage patient derived suspension cultures9,10,12,14.
We recently reported the isolation of prostate CSCs directly from human surgical samples by virtue of their HLAI-negative cell surface phenotype10. Here we detail the procedures implemented for the isolation of these cells. Prostate tumors are harvested from surgical specimens and made into cell suspensions. Cells are then stained using antibodies against HLAI as well as stromal and viability markers, and CSCs are isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Isolated CSCs can then be used for assays requiring viable cells.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="779">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">RPMI</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Gibco Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">11875-093</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Gibco Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">10437-028</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">Penicillin Streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Gibco Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">15140-122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">PBS</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Corning cell gro</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">21-031-CM</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">60 mm-15 mm cell culture dish</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">3295</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">35 &#181;m Cell Strainer</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">BD Falcon</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">352340</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">50 ml conial tube</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Crystalgen</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">23-2263</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">15 ml conical tune</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Crystalgen</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">23-2265</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">Red blood cell lysing buffer</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">R7757</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">HLA class I (W6/32) PE antibody</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Abcam</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">ab43545</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">CD31 FITC antibody</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">ebioscience</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">11-0319-42</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">CD45 FITC antibody</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Abcam</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">ab27287</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">IgG2a&#954; PE antibody</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">BD Pharminogen</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">555574</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">IgG1&#954; FITC antibody</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">BD Pharminogen</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">551954</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">DAPI</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Invitrogen&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">d3571</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:232px;">12 x 75 mm polystyrene tubes with cell strainer cap</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">BD Falcon&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">352235</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">Vortex Mixer</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Crystalgen</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">CG-BV1000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:232px;">10% Neutral Buffer Formalin</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">RBBP-0480</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

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.

<img alt="Figure 1" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51332/51332fig1highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51332/51332fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1. Human prostate cancer tumor harvesting and flow cytometry plot illustrating specific populations from a human prostate cancer. (A) Tumor nodules are harvested to generate a cell suspension. Tumor content of the processed sample is confirmed using conventional Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. (<...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells From Human Prostate Cancer Samples at JoVE.com

Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells From Human Prostate Cancer Samples

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.

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

isolation-of-cancer-stem-cells-from-human-prostate-cancer-samples

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14.0K Views.  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.  L'isolamento di cellule staminali tumorali (CSC) direttamente da tessuti umani è necessaria per la loro caratterizzazione biologica. Questo manoscritto descrive una metodologia per l'isolamento di CSC prostata da tessuti umani, fornendo anche suggerimenti sulla risoluzione dei problemi passi difficili. 