A subscription to JoVE is required to view this content. Sign in or start your free trial.
Three-dimensional cultures of patient BMPC specimens and xenografts of bone metastatic prostate cancer maintain the functional heterogeneity of their original tumors resulting in cysts, spheroids and complex, tumor-like organoids. This manuscript provides an optimization strategy and protocol for 3D culture of heterogeneous patient derived samples and their analysis using IFC.
Three-dimensional (3D) culture of organoids from tumor specimens of human patients and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of prostate cancer, referred to as patient-derived organoids (PDO), are an invaluable resource for studying the mechanism of tumorigenesis and metastasis of prostate cancer. Their main advantage is that they maintain the distinctive genomic and functional heterogeneity of the original tissue compared to conventional cell lines that do not. Furthermore, 3D cultures of PDO can be used to predict the effects of drug treatment on individual patients and are a step towards personalized medicine. Despite these advantages, few groups routinely use this method in part because of the extensive optimization of PDO culture conditions that may be required for different patient samples. We previously demonstrated that our prostate cancer bone metastasis PDX model, PCSD1, recapitulated the resistance of the donor patient’s bone metastasis to anti-androgen therapy. We used PCSD1 3D organoids to characterize further the mechanisms of anti-androgen resistance. Following an overview of currently published studies of PDX and PDO models, we describe a step-by-step protocol for 3D culture of PDO using domed or floating basement membrane (e.g., Matrigel) spheres in optimized culture conditions. In vivo stitch imaging and cell processing for histology are also described. This protocol can be further optimized for other applications including western blot, co-culture, etc. and can be used to explore characteristics of 3D cultured PDO pertaining to drug resistance, tumorigenesis, metastasis and therapeutics.
Three-dimensional cultured organoids have drawn attention for their potential to recapitulate the in vivo architecture, cellular functionality and genetic signature of their original tissues1,2,3,4,5. Most importantly, 3D organoids established from patient tumor tissues or patient derived xenograft (PDX) models provide invaluable opportunities to understand mechanisms of cellular signaling upon tumorigenesis and to determine the effects of drug treatment on each cell population6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13. Drost et al.5 developed a standard protocol for establishment of human and mouse prostate organoids, which has been widely adopted in the field of urology. In addition, significant effort has been dedicated for further characterization of 3D organoids and to understand the detailed mechanisms of tumorigenesis and metastasis4,12,14,15. In addition to the previously established and widely accepted protocol for 3D organoids cultures, we describe here a step-by-step protocol for the 3D culture of PDO using three different doming methods in optimized culture conditions.
In this manuscript, 3D organoids were established as an ex vivo model of bone metastatic prostate cancer (BMPC). The cells used for these cultures came from the Prostate Cancer San Diego (PCSD) series and were derived directly from patient prostate cancer bone metastatic tumor tissues (PCSD18 and PCSD22) or patient derived xenograft (PDX) tumor models (samples named PCSD1, PCSD13, and PCSD17). Because spontaneous bone metastasis of prostate cancer cells is rare in genetically engineered mouse models16, we used direct intra-femoral (IF) injection of human tumor cells into male Rag2-/-γc-/- mice to establish the PDX models of bone metastatic prostate cancer17.
Once 3D organoids are established from heterogeneous patient tumor cells or patient derived xenografts, it is essential to confirm their identity as prostate tumor cells and to determine their phenotypes in the 3D organoid cultures. Immunofluorescence chemistry (IFC) allows the visualization of protein expression in situ in each cell, often indicating the potential functions for specific cell populations2,4. In general, IFC protocols for a vast majority of samples including tissues and cells are straightforward and fully optimized. However, the cell density and number of organoids can be significantly lower than that of conventional culture. Therefore, the IFC protocol for organoids requires additional steps to ensure proper processing and embedding in paraffin for all organoids in the samples. We describe additional steps for an agarose pre-embedding process and tips to label the location of sectioned organoids on the slide that increases the success rate of IFC on organoids especially when the samples of organoids have lower cell density than desired.
This study was carried out in strict accordance with the recommendations in the Guide for the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Institutional Review Board (IRB). IRB #090401 Approval was received from the UCSD Institutional Review Board (IRB) to collect surgical specimen from patients for research purposes. An informed consent was obtained from each patient and a surgical bone prostate cancer metastasis specimen was obtained from orthopedic repair of a pathologic fracture in the femur. Animal protocols were performed under the University of California San Diego (UCSD) animal welfare and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approved protocol #S10298. Cells from mechanically and enzymatically dissociated patient tumor tissue were intra-femorally injected into 6 to 8 week old male Rag2-/-;γc-/- mice as previously described17. Xenograft tumor volume was determined using an in vivo bioluminescence imaging system and caliper measurements. Upon tumor growth up to 2.0 cm (the maximal allowable size approved by IACUC), the tumor was harvested for 3D organoids establishment.
NOTE: Figure 1 shows the workflow for establishing 3D Organoids and a protocol number for each step of the experimental procedures.
1. Processing of patient derived xenograft (PDX) tumor tissues
NOTE: This is an initial step for organoid establishment for a tumor derived from a xenograft mouse model. This protocol is adapted from a previous publication by Drost et al.5 and we have modified the media conditions to include serum supplementation to organoid media.
2. Processing of patient primary tumor tissues
NOTE: This is an initial step for organoid establishment.
3. Forming an attached round dome on the plate
NOTE: This manuscript describes three ways to make a dome from a mixture of the cell pellet and the basement membrane (e.g., Matrigel) as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. In Steps 2-4, the cells and the basement membrane should be kept on ice to prevent solidification of the basement membrane.
4. Forming a floating dome from an attached round dome on the plate
5. Forming floating beads
NOTE: This protocol is named as floating beads since the mixture of basement membrane, media, and organoids look like beads.
6. In vivo organoids image stitching using microscope8
NOTE: Certain microscopes are unable to reach the outer perimeter of the cell plate (edge wall); therefore, we suggest using the wells close to the perimeter of the cell plate when image stitching.
7. Organoid processing for histology: the agarose spin down method
NOTE: This protocol is adapted from a previous publication by Vlachogiannis et al.7. We have added a step involving agarose embedding to successfully embed all populations of organoids.
8. Histology and Immunofluorescent cytochemistry (IFC) of organoids
3D organoids were successfully established from a patient derived xenograft (PDX) model of bone metastatic prostate cancer (BMPC) as well as directly from patient bone metastatic prostate cancer tissue (Figure 4). Briefly, our PDX models of BMPC were established by intra-femoral (IF) injection of tumor cells into male Rag2-/- c-/- mice and then PDX tumors were harvested and processed as described in this manuscript. As shown in Figure 4, PD...
3D organoids derived from patient bone metastasis prostate cancer cells are still relatively rare. Here, we describe strategies and further optimized protocol to successfully established serial 3D patient derived organoids (PDOs) of BMPC. In addition, protocols are described to secure the organoids in samples with lower cell density for IFC and IHC analysis. Differential phenotypes in the form of cyst, spheroids and more complex organoids indicate that this protocol provides culture conditions that allows for heterogonou...
Sanghee Lee and Christina A.M. Jamieson are the guest editors of JoVE Methods Collection.
This study was supported by the Leo and Anne Albert Charitable Foundation and JM Foundation. We thank the University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center members, Dr. Jing Yang and Dr. Kay T. Yeung for allowing us the use of their microtome and Randall French, Department of Surgery for technical expertise.
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
1 mL Pipettman | Gilson | F123602 | |
1 mL Syringe | BD Syringe | 329654 | |
1.5 mL tube | Spectrum Lab Products | 941-11326-ATP083 | |
25G Needle | BD PrecisionGlide Needle | 305122 | |
4% Paraformaldehyde (PFA) | Alfa Aesar | J61899 | |
70% Ethanol (EtOH) | VWR | BDH1164-4LP | |
A83-01 | Tocris Bioscience | 2939 | |
Accumax | Innovative Cell Technologies, Inc. | AM105 | |
adDMEM | Life Technologies | 12634010 | |
Agarose | Lonza | 50000 | |
Antibody -for Cytokeratin 5 | Biolegend | 905901 | |
Antibody for Cytokeratin 8 | Biolegend | 904801 | |
B27 | Life Technologies | 17504044 | |
Bioluminescence imaging system, IVIS 200 | Perkin Elmer Inc | IVIS 200 | |
Cell Culture Plate - 24 well | Costar | 3524 | |
Cell Culture Plate - 48 well | Costar | 3548 | |
Cell Culture Plate - 6 well | Costar | 3516 | |
Cell Dissociation Solution, Accumax | Innovative Cell Technologies, Inc. | AM105 | |
Cell Recovery Solution | Corning | 354253 | |
Cell Scraper | Sarstedt | 83.180 | |
Cell Strainer | Falcon (Corning) | 352350 | |
CO2 incubator | Fisher Scientific | 3546 | |
DAPI | Vector Vectashield | H-1200 | |
DHT | Sigma-Aldrich | D-073-1ML | |
dPBS | Corning/Cellgro | 21-031-CV | |
EGF | PeproTech | AF-100-15 | |
FBS | Gemini Bio-Products | 100-106 | |
FGF10 | PeproTech | 100-26 | |
FGF2 | PeproTech | 100-18B | |
Forceps | Denville Scientific | S728696 | |
Glutamax | Gibco | 35050-061 | |
HEPES | Gibco | 15630-080 | |
LS Columns | Miltenyi | 130-0420401 | |
Magnetic Column Seperator: QuadroMACS Separator | Miltenyi | 130-090-976 | |
Marker | VWR | 52877-355 | |
Matrigel (Growth Factor Reduced) | Mediatech Inc. (Corning) | 356231 | |
Matrigel (High Concentration) | BD (Fisher Scientific) | CB354248 | |
Microscope Imaging Software, Keyence | BZ-X800 (newest software) BZ-X700 (old software) | ||
Microscope, Keyence | BZ-X700 (model 2016-2017)/BZ-X710 (model 2018-2019) | ||
Mouse Cell Depletion Kit | Miltenyi | 130-104-694 | |
N-Acetylcysteine | Sigma-Aldrich | A9165-5G | |
Nicotinamide | Sigma-Aldrich | N0636-100G | |
Noggin | PeproTech | 120-10C | |
OCT Compound | Tissue-Tek | 4583 | |
Parafilm | American National Can | N/A | |
Pen-Strep | Mediatech Inc. (Corning) | 30-002-CI-1 | |
Pipette tipes for 1 mL (Blue Tips) | Fisherbrand Redi-Tip | 21-197-85 | |
Plunger (from 3 mL syringe) | BD Syringe | 309657 | |
Prostaglandin E2 | Tocris Bioscience | 2296 | |
R-Spondin 1 | Trevigen | 3710-001-01 | |
SB2021190 | Sigma-Aldrich | S7076-25MG | |
Small Table Top Centrifuge | ThermoFisher Scientific | 75002426 | |
Water Bath | Fisher Sci | 2320 | |
Y-27632 Dihydrochloride | Abmole Bioscience | M1817 |
Request permission to reuse the text or figures of this JoVE article
Request PermissionThis article has been published
Video Coming Soon
Copyright © 2025 MyJoVE Corporation. All rights reserved