Name: therapy testing in a spheroid-based 3d cell culture model for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Uploaded: 2018-04-20T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma at JoVE.com

This project was funded by a grant of the University of Munich (F&#246;FoLe project-no.: 789-781).

All studies shown in this manuscript, namely the use of human tumor specimens, are protected under and in consent with prior decisions from University Medicine of Mainz/University of Munich Medical Center Ethics committee. Patients have given informed consent according to national legal guidelines agreeing to scientific use of excess biological material that was obtained in the course of their treatment. Research has been performed in compliance with all institutional, national and international guidelines for human welf...

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G., 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=The+degree+of+intratumor+mutational+heterogeneity+varies+by+primary+tumor+sub-site.">The degree of intratumor mutational heterogeneity varies by primary tumor sub-site.</a> Oncotarget. 7 (19), 27185-27198 (2016).</li><li>Loyo, 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=Lessons+learned+from+next-generation+sequencing+in+head+and+neck+cancer.">Lessons learned from next-generation sequencing in head and neck cancer.</a> Head Neck. 35 (3), 454-463 (2013).</li><li>Morris, L. G., 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=The+Molecular+Landscape+of+Recurrent+and+Metastatic+Head+and+Neck+Cancers:+Insights+From+a+Precision+Oncology+Sequencing+Platform.">The Molecular Landscape of Recurrent and Metastatic Head and Neck Cancers: Insights From a Precision Oncology Sequencing Platform.</a> JAMA Oncol. , (2016).</li><li>Bauml, J. M., Cohen, R. B., Aggarwal, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunotherapy+for+head+and+neck+cancer:+latest+developments+and+clinical+potential.">Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer: latest developments and clinical potential.</a> Ther Adv Med Oncol. 8 (3), 168-175 (2016).</li><li>Mack, B., 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=Rapid+and+non-enzymatic+in+vitro+retrieval+of+tumour+cells+from+surgical+specimens.">Rapid and non-enzymatic in vitro retrieval of tumour cells from surgical specimens.</a> PLoS One. 8 (1), e55540 (2013).</li><li>Ham, S. L., Joshi, R., Thakuri, P. 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P., Hofstaedter, F., Ebner, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+use+of+3-D+cultures+for+high-throughput+screening:+the+multicellular+spheroid+model.">The use of 3-D cultures for high-throughput screening: the multicellular spheroid model.</a> J Biomol Screen. 9 (4), 273-285 (2004).</li><li>Lin, R. Z., Chang, H. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Recent+advances+in+three-dimensional+multicellular+spheroid+culture+for+biomedical+research.">Recent advances in three-dimensional multicellular spheroid culture for biomedical research.</a> Biotechnol J. 3 (9-10), 1172-1184 (2008).</li><li>Weiswald, L. B., Bellet, D., Dangles-Marie, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spherical+cancer+models+in+tumor+biology.">Spherical cancer models in tumor biology.</a> Neoplasia. 17 (1), 1-15 (2015).</li><li>Cancer Genome Atlas, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comprehensive+genomic+characterization+of+head+and+neck+squamous+cell+carcinomas.">Comprehensive genomic characterization of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.</a> Nature. 517 (7536), 576-582 (2015).</li><li>Duarte, S., 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=Isolation+of+head+and+neck+squamous+carcinoma+cancer+stem-like+cells+in+a+syngeneic+mouse+model+and+analysis+of+hypoxia+effect.">Isolation of head and neck squamous carcinoma cancer stem-like cells in a syngeneic mouse model and analysis of hypoxia effect.</a> Oncol Rep. 28 (3), 1057-1062 (2012).</li><li>Reid, P. A., Wilson, P., Li, Y., Marcu, L. 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B., 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=Can+animal+models+of+disease+reliably+inform+human+studies?.">Can animal models of disease reliably inform human studies?.</a> PLoS Med. 7 (3), e1000245 (2010).</li><li>Wilding, J. L., Bodmer, W. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cancer+cell+lines+for+drug+discovery+and+development.">Cancer cell lines for drug discovery and development.</a> Cancer Res. 74 (9), 2377-2384 (2014).</li><li>Chitcholtan, K., Asselin, E., Parent, S., Sykes, P. H., Evans, J. 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We were able to establish a protocol to generate reproducible spheroids from cell suspensions, for both cell lines and, in preliminary experiments, primary human tumor cells. We first assessed two previously described methods and identified the ULA-method, a method where culture plates with ultra-low adhesion surfaces are used, to be the safer and more reliable one for the generation of uniform three-dimensional spheroids. By combining two separate methods for assay read-out (size/area and cell viability), this multimoda...

Head and Neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide with a rising incidence of mucosal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection-associated pathogenesis, next to a majority of cases caused by excessive nicotine and alcohol consumption 1,2. While smaller tumors and pre-invasive stages are usually well treatable with surgical excision, usually combined with cervical lymph node dissection, treatment for advanced-stage and recurrent HNSCC remains challenging due to aggressive tumor invasion with metastatic spread and resistance to radiation and chemotherapy protocols3,4,5,6,7,8. Recent studies suggest a high variability of cellular phenotype, and sub-characterization of circulating and disseminated tumor cells has just begun9,10. The earlier belief of a solid, uniform tumor mass had to be revised in the light of recent studies in the past years11,12,13,14. Current approaches for tumor characterization and identification of key mutations could identify several genes that seem to be associated with therapy resistance but remain a cost-intensive approach. Moreover, knowledge of genotype does not necessarily allow a reliable prediction of phenotype and its treatment response.
There have been few advances in improving overall and disease-free survival for advanced-stage and recurrent disease. For nicotine- as well as virus-associated carcinoma, current treatment options besides surgery enclose aggressive radiation and platinum-based chemotherapy regimens. There have been implications for different response rates between HPV-negative and positive carcinoma; however, this has not yet lead to a change in general therapy guidelines. Resistance towards radiation and chemotherapy is a widespread phenomenon in all tumor stages and exists for platinum-based chemotherapy as well as for targeted therapy (Anti-EGFR; epidermal growth factor-receptor) and recently emerging checkpoint inhibition15. Ineffective radiation and chemotherapy come at a high cost of significant patient morbidity in terms of dysphagia, mucositis, dry mouth and risk of decrease of renal or cardiac function among others. Predicting therapy response prior the decision of a general therapy concept for each individual patient seems to be the crucial goal, preventing unnecessary treatment concepts, side effects and costs.
We sought to establish a model to test individual patient&#39;s treatment susceptibility towards current standard chemo-radiation that could be integrated into the regular and quality-controlled oncologic treatment algorithm from a technical standing point. The far goal was to use the model without using heavily altered and aged cell lines, as they poorly represent actual human tumor cells without their variability and heterogeneity as we know now, while establishment of the protocol was done in various cell lines. To be independent only from commercially available cell lines, we recently successfully generated an intermediate cell line called &#34;PiCa&#34; from primary HNSCC cells from human tumor specimens with conserved cellular markers on its surface and limited passages16. This PiCa cell line should serve as a preparation for the development of the model on the road to then later following trials with fresh human cancer cells from tumor biopsies. It has been shown that cells in three-dimensional cell cultures react differently and more in vivo-like to administration of cancer drugs than those growing in monolayers17,18,19,20,21, mainly due to conservation of migratory and sub-differentiation properties of certain cell subsets22,23,24. Here, we describe the protocol of a spheroid-based, three-dimensional model from intermediate cell lines and primary human squamous cell carcinoma cells and ways how integrate such a model into cancer treatment of the head and neck surgeon and oncologist (Figure 1).

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbeccos modified Eagles medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>Biochrom, Berlin, Germany</td>
			<td>F 0425</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td>Gibco Life Technologies, Paisley, UK</td>
			<td>10500-064</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>penicillin/streptomycin</td>
			<td>Biochrom, Berlin, Germany</td>
			<td>A2212</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>sodium pyruvate</td>
			<td>Biochrom, Berlin, Germany</td>
			<td>L0473</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>non-essential amino acids</td>
			<td>Biochrom, Berlin, Germany</td>
			<td>K0293</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glutamine</td>
			<td>Biochrom, Berlin, Germany</td>
			<td>K0293</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Liberase</td>
			<td>Roche Life Sciences, Basel, Switzerland</td>
			<td>5401127001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GravityPLUS 3D Culture and Assay Platform</td>
			<td>InSphero, Schlieren, Switzerland</td>
			<td>PB-CS 06-001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GravityTRAP plate</td>
			<td>InSphero, Schlieren, Switzerland</td>
			<td>PB-CS-01-001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ultra-low attachment (ULA) culture plates</td>
			<td>Corning, Corning, NY, USA</td>
			<td>4520</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>airway epithelial cell growth medium</td>
			<td>Promocell, Heidelberg, Germany</td>
			<td>C-21060</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>amphotericin B</td>
			<td>Biochrom, Berlin, Germany</td>
			<td>A 2612</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>airway epithelial cell growth medium supplement mix</td>
			<td>Promocell, Heidelberg, Germany</td>
			<td>C39165</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>WST-8 test</td>
			<td>Promocell, Heidelberg, Germany</td>
			<td>PC PK-CA705-CK04</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Keratinocyte SFMedium + L-Glutamine 500mL</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>#17005-034</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine Pituitary Extract (BPE), 25mg</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>#37000015</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recombinant human Epithelial Growth Factor 2.5 &#181;g</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>#37000015</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM High Glucose</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>#21068-028</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin Streptomycin 10000U/mL Penicillin/ 10000&#181;g/mL Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>#15140-122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>F12 Nutrient Mix</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>#21765-029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glutamax (200 mM L-Alanyl-L-Glutamin-Dipeptide in NaCl)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>#35050087</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HBSS (Ca, Mg)</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>#14025-092</td>
			<td>(no phenol red)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1x TrypLE Expres Enzyme</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>#12604-013</td>
			<td>(no phenol red)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Accutase (enzymatic cell detachment solution)</td>
			<td>Innovative cell technologies</td>
			<td>Cat# AT104</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>70 &#181;m Falcon cell strainer</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences, USA</td>
			<td>#352350</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

therapy testing in a spheroid-based 3d cell culture model for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Current treatment options for advanced and recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) enclose radiation and chemo-radiation approaches with or without surgery. While platinum-based chemotherapy regimens currently represent the gold standard in terms of efficacy and are given in the vast majority of cases, new chemotherapy regimens, namely immunotherapy are emerging. However, the response rates and therapy resistance mechanisms for either chemo regimen are hard to predict and remain insufficiently understood. Broad variations of chemo and radiation resistance mechanisms are known to date. This study describes the development of a standardized, high-throughput in vitro assay to assess HNSCC cell line&#39;s response to various therapy regimens, and hopefully on primary cells from individual patients as a future tool for personalized tumor therapy. The assay is designed to being integrated into the quality-controlled standard algorithm for HNSCC patients at our tertiary care center; however, this will be subject of future studies. Technical feasibility looks promising for primary cells from tumor biopsies from actual patients. Specimens are then transferred into the laboratory. Biopsies are mechanically separated followed by enzymatic digestion. Cells are then cultured in ultra-low adhesion cell culture vials that promote the reproducible, standardized and spontaneous formation of three-dimensional, spheroid-shaped cell conglomerates. Spheroids are then ready to be exposed to chemo-radiation protocols and immunotherapy protocols as needed. The final cell viability and spheroid size are indicators of therapy susceptibility and therefore could be drawn into consideration in future to assess the patients&#39; likely therapy response. This model could be a valuable, cost-efficient tool towards personalized therapy for head and neck cancer.

We were able to reproducibly generate spheroids from single cell suspensions, first from different cell lines including the proprietary PiCa cell line, later from primary human cancer cells derived from fresh tumor biopsies as described in Hagemann et al.26. We evaluated two established methods for spheroid generation; the two being the so-called hanging drop (HD) method and the ultra-low adhesion (ULA) method, the latter being the more effective and safe ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma at JoVE.com

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

We describe the evolution of a spheroid-based, three-dimensional in vitro model that enables us to test the current standard of experimental therapy regimens for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma on cell lines, aiming at evaluating therapy susceptibility and resistance on primary cells from human specimens in the future.

Current treatment options for advanced and recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) enclose radiation and chemo-radiation approaches with ...

The overall goal of this in vitro method is to generate the three dimensional cell culture spheroids that enable the testing of current standard or experimental therapy regimens for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. This method helps us to understand three dimensional tumor growth of head and neck cancer cells when exposed to radiation or chemo radiation treatment. It remains to be said that handling primary tumor cells is difficult and does not always lead to reliable three dimensional spheroid formation.Demonstrating the procedure will be Sabina Schwenk-Zieger, a technician from our laboratory. While using primary cells from a tumor specimen, place the specimen on a suitable and sterile surface and cut it thoroughly with a sterile, single-use scalpel into very small pieces. After sufficient mechanical separation of the primary tissue, transfer it into a vial containing collagenase 1 and 2 and incubate it for one hour at 37 degrees celsius.Next, sieve the mixture through a 70 micrometer Falcon cell strainer and wash the suspension with HBSS. After successful separation and subsequent washing, transfer the suspension containing one to two million cells into a T75 cell culture flask to grow to subconfluency at 37 degrees celsius for up to ten days. Under a microscope, confirm tumor cell growth.Count the cells in culture. Using an ultra-low adhesion 96-well plate with concave round bottoms, seed 5, 000 primary tumor cells, or 1, 000 to 2, 000 cells of intermediate cell line, in 200 to 300 microliters of media into the wells. Next, culture the cells at 37 degrees celsius.Perform media changes every other day. Pay attention not to aspirate the spheroid with the pipette during media changes. Culture the spheroids until the three dimensional spheroid-shaped cell conglomerates are observed.Keep in mind to exclude the wells with irregular or multiple spheroid formation from further investigation. Subsequently, change the media to media with chemo therapeutics and/or monoclonal antibodies at desired concentrations. Add Cisplatin at the concentrations of 2.5, five, or 10 micromolar or 5-Fluorouracil at 30 micromolar.In this procedure, measure the spheroid size after digital photo documentation on day six, day 10 and day 16 with a graphic software. After centrifugation of the plate at 520g for 2.5 minutes, remove the supernatant. Next, wash the cells with 1x PBS and centrifuge the plate again, followed by removing the supernatant.Next, add 100 microliters of enzymatic cell detachment solution to each vial to allow the spheroids to dissolve. Subsequently, incubate the plate for eight minutes at 37 degrees celsius. Check for successful dissolving of the spheroids under the microscope.Add 100 microliters of DMEM. Next, centrifuge the plate at 520g for 2.5 minutes. Then remove the supernatant and suspend the cells in 100 microliters of DMEM.Subsequently, if necessary, perform a commercially-available colorimetric proliferation assay and read the assay in an ELISA reader. All cell lines could generate reliable spheroids with differences in size and time of readout. Primary cells did form reproducible spheroids in ultra-low attachment plates.The Ki-67 staining reveals the periphery of the culture showing much higher proliferation rates than central cells, mimicking nutrient distribution in solid mucosal tumors that often show necrotic cores. Here, the effect of several chemo therapeutics and radiation on spheroid size. Radiation with two gray prior to treatment with Cisplatin, lead to a significant decrease in spheroid size compared to Cisplatin alone.With further establishment of generating spheroids from primary human cells, this is how the concept of therapy testing could be implemented. Spheroids would be generated after tumor biopsy, and then tested for molecular characteristics and therapy susceptibility. We were able to establish a protocol to generate reproducible spheroids from cell suspensions for both cell lines and primary human tumor cells.This multimodal assay is sufficiently sensitive to identify small differences between groups. In future, the assay could be used to first, assess individual response to standard and experimental therapy protocols. Second, further characterize the tumor cells from fresh specimens.And third, correlate therapy response to molecular patterns. The use of primary cells and the generation of spheroids would allow the preservation of as many characteristics of in vivo tumor growth as possible in combination with a cost-efficient assay for studying individual therapy response.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Cancer Research

The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia

Cancer cachexia is the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and adipose tissue, negative nitrogen balance, anorexia, fatigue, inflammation, and activation of lipolysis and proteolysis systems. Cancer patients with cachexia benefit less from anti-neoplastic therapies and show increased mortality1. Several animal models have been established in order to investigate the molecular causes responsible for body and muscle wasting as a result of tumor growth. Here, we describe methodologies pertaining to a well-characterized model of cancer cachexia: mice bearing the C26 carcinoma2-4. Although this model is heavily used in cachexia research, different approaches make reproducibility a potential issue. The growth of the C26 tumor causes a marked and progressive loss of body and skeletal muscle mass, accompanied by reduced muscle cross-sectional area and muscle strength3-5. Adipose tissue is also lost. Wasting is coincident with elevated circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly Interleukin-6 (IL-6)3, which is directly, although not entirely, responsible for C26 cachexia. It is well-accepted that a primary mechanism by which the C26 tumor induces muscle tissue depletion is the activation of skeletal muscle proteolytic systems. Thus, expression of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases, such as atrogin-1/MAFbx and MuRF-1, represent an accepted method for the evaluation of the ongoing muscle catabolism2. Here, we present how to execute this model in a reproducible manner and how to excise several tissues and organs (the liver, spleen, and heart), as well as fat and skeletal muscles (the gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and quadriceps). We also provide useful protocols that describe how to perform muscle freezing, sectioning, and fiber size quantification.

Mice bearing the Colon-26 (C26) carcinoma represent a classical model of cancer cachexia. Progressive muscle wasting occurs in association with tumor growth, over-expression of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases, and reductions in muscle cross-sectional area. Fat loss is also observed. Cachexia is studied in a time-dependent manner with increasing severity of wasting.

Cancer cachexia is the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and adipose tissue, negative nitrogen balance, anorexia, fatigue, inflammation, and ...

A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Perineural invasion (PNI) is found in approximately 40% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Despite multimodal treatment with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, locoregional recurrences and distant metastases occur at higher rates, and overall survival is decreased by 40% compared to HNSCC without PNI. In vitro studies of the pathways involved in HNSCC PNI have historically been challenging given the lack of a consistent, reproducible assay. Described here is the adaptation of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) assay for the examination of PNI in HNSCC. In this model, DRG are harvested from the spinal column of a sacrificed nude mouse and placed within a semisolid matrix. Over the subsequent days, neurites are generated and grow in a radial pattern from the cell bodies of the DRG. HNSCC cell lines are then placed peripherally around the matrix and invade preferentially along the neurites toward the DRG. This method allows for rapid evaluation of multiple treatment conditions, with very high assay success rates and reproducibility.

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a common feature of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), conferring lower survival rates. Its mechanisms are poorly understood. Utilizing neurites generated from murine dorsal root ganglia confined to a semisolid matrix, the pathways involved in the PNI of HNSCC cell lines can be investigated.

Perineural invasion (PNI) is found in approximately 40% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Despite multimodal treatment with surgery, ...

A Syngeneic Mouse Model of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma for Quantitative and Longitudinal Assessment of Preclinical Therapies

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) affects &#62; 60,000 people in the United States annually, and ~ 30% of RCC patients have multiple metastases at the time of diagnosis. Metastatic RCC (mRCC) is incurable, with a median survival time of only 18 months. Immune-based interventions (e.g., interferon (IFN) and interleukin (IL)-2) induce durable responses in a fraction of mRCC patients, and multikinase inhibitors (e.g., sunitinib or sorafenib) or anti-VEGF receptor monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are largely palliative, as complete remissions are rare. Such shortcomings in current therapies for mRCC patients provide the rationale for the development of novel treatment protocols. A key component in the preclinical testing of new therapies for mRCC is a suitable animal model. Beneficial features that recapitulate the human condition include a primary renal tumor, renal tumor metastases, and an intact immune system to investigate any therapy-driven immune effector responses and the formation of tumor-induced immunosuppressive factors. This report describes an orthotopic mRCC mouse model that has all of these features. We describe an intrarenal implantation technique using the mouse renal adenocarcinoma cell line Renca, followed by the assessment of tumor growth in the kidney (primary site) and lungs (metastatic site).

Implementation of an orthotopic model of renal cell carcinoma in immunocompetent mice affords the investigator a clinically-relevant system defined by the presence of a primary renal tumor and lung metastases in the same animal. This system can be used to preclinically test a variety of treatments in vivo.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) affects &#62; 60,000 people in the United States annually, and ~ 30% of RCC patients have multiple metastases at the time of ...

A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is a childhood brainstem tumor that carries a universally fatal prognosis. Because surgical resection is not a viable treatment strategy and biopsy is not routinely performed, the availability of patient samples for research is limited. Consequently, efforts to study this disease have been challenged by a paucity of faithful disease models. To address this need, we describe here a protocol for the rapid processing of post-mortem autopsy tissue samples in order to generate durable patient-derived cell culture models that can be used in in vitro assays or in vivo orthotopic xenograft experiments. These models can be used to screen for potential drug targets and to study fundamental pathobiological processes within DIPG. This protocol can further be extended to analyze and isolate tumor and microenvironmental cells using Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting (FACS), which enables subsequent analysis of gene expression, protein expression, or epigenetic modifications of DNA at the bulk cell or single cell level. Finally, this protocol can also be adapted to generate patient-derived cultures for other central nervous system tumors.

A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma DIPG

This protocol describes a method for the rapid processing of post-mortem diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma samples for the establishment of patient-derived cell culture models or direct characterization of tumor and microenvironmental cells.

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is a childhood brainstem tumor that carries a universally fatal prognosis. Because surgical resection is not a ...

Four-color Fluorescence Immunohistochemistry of T-cell Subpopulations in Archival Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Human Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Samples

The four-color fluorescence immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique is a method to quantify cell populations of interest while taking into account their relative distribution and their localization in the tissue. This technique has been extensively applied to study the immune infiltrate in various tumor types. The tumor microenvironment is infiltrated by immune cells that are attracted to the tumor site. Different immune cell populations have been found to play different roles in the tumor microenvironment and to have a different impact on the outcome of disease. This manuscript describes the use of multiparameter fluorescence IHC on oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) as an example. This technique can be extended to other tissue samples and cell types of interest. In the presented study, we analyzed the intraepithelial and stromal compartment of a large OPSCC cohort (n = 162). We focused on total T lymphocytes (CD3+), immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs; i.e., FoxP3+), and T helper 17 (Th17) cells (i.e., IL-17+CD3+) using a nuclear counterstain to distinguish tumor epithelium from stroma. A high number of T cells was found to be correlated with improved disease-free survival in patients with a low number of intratumoral IL-17+ non-T cells. This suggests that IL-17+ non-T cells may be correlated with a poor immune response in OPSCC, which is in agreement with the correlation described between IL-17 and poor survival in cancer patients. Currently, novel multiparameter fluorescence IHC techniques are being developed using up to 7 different fluorochromes and will enable the more precise characterization and localization of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.

Multiparameter fluorescence immunohistochemistry can be used to assess the number, relative distribution, and localization of immune cell populations in the tumor microenvironment. This manuscript describes the use of this technique to analyze T-cell subpopulations in oropharyngeal cancer.

The four-color fluorescence immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique is a method to quantify cell populations of interest while taking into account their ...

Fabrication of Tongue Extracellular Matrix and Reconstitution of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Vitro

In order to construct an effective and realistic model for tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) in vitro, the methods were created to produce decellularized tongue extracellular matrix (TEM) which provides functional scaffolds for TSCC construction. TEM provides an in vitro niche for cell growth, differentiation, and cell migration. The microstructures of native extracellular matrix (ECM) and biochemical compositions retained in the decellularized matrix provide tissue-specific niches for anchoring cells. The fabrication of TEM can be realized by deoxyribonuclease (DNase) digestion accompanied with a serious of organic or inorganic pretreatment. This protocol is easy to operate and ensures high efficiency for the decellularization. The TEM showed favorable cytocompatibility for TSCC cells under static or stirred culture conditions, which enables the construction of the TSCC model. A self-made bioreactor was also used for the persistent stirred condition for cell culture. Reconstructed TSCC using TEM showed the characteristics and properties resembling clinical TSCC histopathology, suggesting the potential in TSCC research.

Fabrication of Tongue Extracellular Matrix and Reconstitution of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Vitro

A method is shown here for the preparation of the tongue extracellular matrix (TEM) with efficient decellularization. The TEM can be used as functional scaffolds for the reconstruction of a tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) model under static or stirred culture conditions.

In order to construct an effective and realistic model for tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) in vitro, the methods were created to produce ...

Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a debilitating and deadly disease with a high prevalence of recurrence and treatment failure. To develop better therapeutic strategies, understanding tumor microenvironmental factors that contribute to the treatment resistance is important. A major impediment to understanding disease mechanisms and improving therapy has been a lack of murine cell lines that resemble the aggressive and metastatic nature of human HNSCCs. Furthermore, a majority of murine models employ subcutaneous implantations of tumors which lack important physiological features of the head and neck region, including high vascular density, extensive lymphatic vasculature, and resident mucosal flora. The purpose of this study is to develop and characterize an orthotopic model of HNSCC. We employ two genetically distinct murine cell lines and established tumors in the buccal mucosa of mice. We optimize collagenase-based tumor digestion methods for the optimal recovery of single cells from established tumors. The data presented here show that mice develop highly vascularized tumors that metastasize to regional lymph nodes. Single-cell multiparametric mass cytometry analysis shows the presence of diverse immune populations with myeloid cells representing the majority of all immune cells. The model proposed in this study has applications in cancer biology, tumor immunology, and preclinical development of novel therapeutics. The resemblance of the orthotopic model to clinical features of human disease will provide a tool for enhanced translation and improved patient outcomes.

Here we present a reproducible method for developing an orthotopic murine model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Tumors demonstrate clinically relevant histopathological features of the disease, including necrosis, poor differentiation, nodal metastases, and immune infiltration. Tumor-bearing mice develop clinically relevant symptoms including dysphagia, jaw displacement, and weight loss.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a debilitating and deadly disease with a high prevalence of recurrence and treatment failure. To develop ...

Comparing Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Model Established in Mouse Kidney and on Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane

Metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of kidney cancer. Localized ccRCC has a favorable surgical outcome. However, one third of ccRCC patients will develop metastases to the lung, which is related to a very poor outcome for patients. Unfortunately, no therapy is available for this deadly stage, because the molecular mechanism of metastasis remains unknown. It has been known for 25 years that the loss of function of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene is pathognomonic of ccRCC. However, no clinically relevant transgenic mouse model of ccRCC has been generated. The purpose of this protocol is to introduce and compare two newly established animal models for metastatic ccRCC. The first is renal implantation in the mouse model. In our laboratory, the CRISPR gene editing system was utilized to knock out the VHL gene in several RCC cell lines. Orthotopic implantation of heterogeneous ccRCC populations to the renal capsule created novel ccRCC models that develop robust lung metastases in immunocompetent mice. The second model is the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) system. In comparison to the mouse model, this model is more time, labor, and cost-efficient. This model also supported robust tumor formation and intravasation. Due to the short 10 day period of tumor growth in CAM, no overt metastasis was observed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the collected embryo tissues. However, when tumor growth was extended by two weeks in the hatched chicken, micrometastatic ccRCC lesions were observed by IHC in the lungs. These two novel preclinical models will be useful to further study the molecular mechanism behind metastasis, as well as to establish new, patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) toward the development of novel treatments for metastatic ccRCC.

Metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma is a disease without a comprehensive animal model for thorough preclinical investigation. This protocol illustrates two novel animal models for the disease: the orthotopically implanted mouse model and the chicken chorioallantoic membrane model, both of which demonstrate lung metastasis resembling clinical cases.

Metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of kidney cancer. Localized ccRCC has a favorable surgical outcome. However, ...

In Vitro Establishment of a Genetically Engineered Murine Head and Neck Cancer Cell Line using an Adeno-Associated Virus-Cas9 System

The use of primary normal epithelial cells makes it possible to reproducibly induce genomic alterations required for cellular transformation by introducing specific mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, using clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based genome editing technology in mice. This technology allows us to accurately mimic the genetic changes that occur in human cancers using mice. By genetically transforming murine primary cells, we can better study cancer development, progression, treatment, and diagnosis. In this study, we used Cre-inducible Cas9 mouse tongue epithelial cells to enable genome editing using adeno-associated virus (AAV) in vitro. Specifically, by altering KRAS, p53, and APC in normal tongue epithelial cells, we generated a murine head and neck cancer (HNC) cell line in vitro,which is tumorigenic in syngeneic mice. The method presented here describes in detail how to generate HNC cell lines with specific genomic alterations and explains their suitability for predicting tumor progression in syngeneic mice. We envision that this promising method will be informative and useful to study tumor biology and therapy of HNC.

Development of murine models with specific genes mutated in head and neck cancer patients is required for understanding of neoplasia. Here, we present a protocol for in vitro transformation of primary murine tongue cells using an adeno-associated virus-Cas9 system to generate murine HNC cell lines with specific genomic alterations.

The use of primary normal epithelial cells makes it possible to reproducibly induce genomic alterations required for cellular transformation by ...

Multidimensional Coculture System to Model Lung Squamous Carcinoma Progression

Tumor-stroma interactions play a critical role in the development of lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC). However, understanding how these dynamic interactions contribute to tissue architectural changes observed during tumorigenesis remains challenging due to the lack of appropriate models. In this protocol, we describe the generation of a 3D coculture model using a LUSC primary cell culture known as TUM622. TUM622 cells were established from a LUSC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and have the unique property to form acinar-like structures when seeded in a basement membrane matrix. We demonstrate that TUM622 acini in 3D coculture recapitulate key features of tissue architecture during LUSC progression as well as the dynamic interactions between LUSC cells and components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), including the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). We further adapt our principal 3D culturing protocol to demonstrate how this system could be utilized for various downstream analyses. Overall, this organoid model creates a biologically rich and adaptable platform that enables one to gain insight into the cell-intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that promote the disruption of epithelial architectures during carcinoma progression and will aid the search for new therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers.

An in vitro model system was developed to capture tissue architectural changes during lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC) progression in a 3-dimensional (3D) co-culture with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). This organoid system provides a unique platform to investigate the roles of diverse tumor cell-intrinsic and extrinsic changes that modulate the tumor phenotype.

Tumor-stroma interactions play a critical role in the development of lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC). However, understanding how these dynamic interactions ...