A Robust Discovery Platform for the Identification of Novel Mediators of Melanoma Metastasis

Summary

This article describes a workflow of techniques employed for testing novel candidate mediators of melanoma metastasis and their mechanism(s) of action.

Abstract

Metastasis is a complex process, requiring cells to overcome barriers that are only incompletely modeled by in vitro assays. A systematic workflow was established using robust, reproducible in vivo models and standardized methods to identify novel players in melanoma metastasis. This approach allows for data inference at specific experimental stages to precisely characterize a gene's role in metastasis. Models are established by introducing genetically modified melanoma cells via intracardiac, intradermal, or subcutaneous injections into mice, followed by monitoring with serial in vivo imaging. Once preestablished endpoints are reached, primary tumors and/or metastases-bearing organs are harvested and processed for various analyses. Tumor cells can be sorted and subjected to any of several 'omics' platforms, including single-cell RNA sequencing. Organs undergo imaging and immunohistopathological analyses to quantify the overall burden of metastases and map their specific anatomic location. This optimized pipeline, including standardized protocols for engraftment, monitoring, tissue harvesting, processing, and analysis, can be adopted for patient-derived, short-term cultures and established human and murine cell lines of various solid cancer types.

Introduction

The high mortality associated with metastatic melanoma combined with an increasing incidence of melanoma worldwide¹ (an estimated 7.86% increase by 2025) calls for new treatment approaches. Advances in target discovery hinge upon reproducible models of metastasis, a highly complex process. Throughout the steps of the metastatic cascade, melanoma cells must overcome countless barriers to achieve immune system evasion and colonization of distant tissues². The resilience and adaptability of melanoma cells arise from a multitude of factors, including their high genetic mutational burden³ and their neu....

Protocol

NOTE: The animal procedures involved in the following protocol were approved by the New York University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). All the procedures are conducted in facilities approved by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC). Figure 1 depicts the general experimental approach.

1. Patient-derived melanoma short-term cultures (STCs)

1. Place the tissue .......

Discussion

The aim of this technical report is to offer a standardized, top-to-bottom workflow for the investigation of potential actors in melanoma metastasis. As in vivo experiments can be costly and time-consuming, strategies to maximize efficiency and increase the value of the information obtained are paramount.

It is imperative to use complementary approaches throughout to crossvalidate findings within the same experiment. For example, both NuMA immunohistochemical staining and BLI are comp.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
#15 Scapel Blade	WPI	500242	For surgical procedures
#3 Scapel Handle	WPI	500236	For surgical procedures
1 mL Tuberculin syringe, slip tip	BD	309626	Injections
10 mL syringe, slip tip	BD	301029	Perfusion
10% Formalin Sodium Buffered	EK Industries	4499-20L	For perfusion/tissue fixative
15 mL Conical	Corning	430052	Cell culture
15 mL Conical Polypropylene Centrifuge Tubes	Falcon	352196	Cell culture
200 Proof Ethanol	Deacon Labs	04-355-223	Histology
22G – 22mm needle	BD	305156	Perfusion
4-0 Vicryl Suture	Ethicon	J464G	Suture
4% Carson's phosphate buffered paraformaldehyde	EMS	15733-10	For perfusion/tissue fixative
40µm	Corning	431750	Tissue processing
5-0 Absorbable Suture	Ethicon	6542000	Closure
50 mL Conical	Corning	430828	Cell culture
50mL Conical Polypropylene Centrifuge Tubes	Falcon	352070	Cell culture
7-0 Silk suture	FST	18020-70	Ligature
70µm	Corning	431751	Tissue processing
Anti-fade mounting media	Vector Labs	H-1000-10	Immunofluorescence
Approximator applying Forceps, 10cm	WPI	14189	For microsurgical procedures
Avance	Bruker	3 HD	NMR Console
Biospec 7030	Bruker	7030	Micro MRI
BSA	Bioreg	A941	NuMA Staining
Castroviejo suturing forceps, straight tips 5.5mm tying platform, 11cm	WPI	WP5025501	For microsurgical procedures
Coplin Staining Jar	Bel-Art	F44208-1000	Histology
DAPI	Sigma-Aldrich	D9542-1MG	Immunofluorescence
dCas9-KRAB	Addgene	110820	Genetic manipulation
DNase I	NEB	M0303L	Tissue processing
DPBS	Corning	21-030-CM	Tissue processing
Extra Sharp Uncoated Single Edge Blade	GEM	62-0167	Tissue processing
Extracellular Matrix Substrate	Corning	354234	Consider the Growth Factor Reduced ( as alternative
FBS	Cytiva	SH30910.03	Cell culture
Fiji Image J	Fiji Image J	Software	Immunofluorescence
Goat anti-rabbit HRP conjugated multimer	Thermo Fisher	A16104	NuMA Staining
Goat Serum	Gibco	PCN5000	Immunofluorescence
HBSS	Corning	21-020-CV	Tissue processing
Hematoxylin	Richard-Allan Scientific	7231	Histology
Illumina III	PerkinElmer	CLS136334	BLI Instrument
Insulin syringe 28G - 8mm needle	BD	329424	Injections
Insulin syringe 31G - 6mm needle	BD	326730	Injections
Iris Forceps, 10.2cm, Full Curve, serrated	WPI	504478	For perfusion and surgical procedures
Isoflurane USP	Covetrus	11695067772	Anesthesia
Jewelers #7 Forceps Titanium 11 cm 0.07 x 0.01 mm Tip	WPI	WP6570	For microsurgical procedures
Ketamine HCl 100mg/mL	Mylan Ind.	1049007	Anesthesia
lentiCRISPRv2	Addgene	98290	Genetic manipulation
Lycopersicon Esculentum (Tomato) Lectin, DyLight 649	Invitrogen	L32472	Vascular endothelial cells marker
MEM non-essential amino acids X 100	Corning	25-025-CI	Cell culture
Metzenbaum Scissors	WPI	503269	For surgical procedures
Microinjection Unit	KOPF	5000	Intracardiac injections
NaCl	Fisher	S25877	NuMA Staining
Needle 30G x 25mm	BD	305128	Intracardiac Injection
Needle 33G x 15mm	Hamilton	7747-01	Intracarotid Injection
Needle holder, Castroviejo, 14cm, with lock, 1.2mm Serrated Jaws	WPI	14137-G	For microsurgical procedures
NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ mice	The Jackson Laboratory	005557	Murine model
NU/J mice	The Jackson Laboratory	002019	Murine model
Nuclear Mitotic Apparatus Protein polyclonal rabbit anti-human	Abcam	97585	NuMA Staining
Penicillin-Streptomycin 10000U/mL	Gibco	15140122	Cell culture
Percoll	GE	0891-01	density separation solution
PI Classic Surgical Gloves	Cardinal Health	2D72PT75X	Surgery
pLKO Tet-On	Addgene	21915	Genetic manipulation
Povidone-Iodine 10% Solution	Medline	MDS093943	Surgery
Proparacaine Drops 0.5%	Akorn Pharma	AX0501	Opthalmic local anesthetic
Puralube Petrolatum Opthalmic Ointment	Dechra	83592	Anesthesia
Razor Blade Double Edge Blades	EMS	72000	Shaving and Vibrotome Brain Slicing
Reflex 9mm EZ Clip	Braintree	EZC- KIT	Wound closure
RPMI 1640	Corning	10-040-CM	Cell culture
Scissors, Spring 10.5cm Str, 8mm Blades	WPI	501235	For microsurgical procedures
Semi-Automatic Vibrating Blade Microtome	Leica	VT1200	Brain Slice Immunofluorescence
Single Channel Anesthesia Vaporizer System	Kent Scientific	VetFlo-1210S	Anesthesia
Smartbox Tabletop Chamber System and Exhaust Blower	EZ Systems	TT4000	CO2 Euthanasia
Sterile Fenestrated Disposable Drape	Medline	NON21002	Surgery
Sterile Non-Reinforced Aurora Surgical Gowns with Set-In Sleeves	Medline	DYNJP2715	Surgery
T25 Flask	Corning	430639	Cell culture
Tris	Corning	46-031-CM	NuMA Staining
Triton X-100	Sigma-Aldrich	X100-500ML	Immunofluorescence
Troutman tying forceps, 10cm, Curved G pattern, 0.52mm tip with tying platform	WPI	WP505210	For microsurgical procedures
Vessel clips 10G Pressure 5x 0.8mm Jaws, 5/pkg	WPI	15911	For microsurgical procedures
Visiopharm	Visiopharm	Visiopharm	NuMA Staining Quantification Software
Xylasine 100mg/mL	Akorn Pharma	59399-111-50	Anesthesia
Xylene	Fisher	X3P-1GAL	Histology