This work was supported by a CASS Foundation Science and Medicine Grant; (MB); a National Health &#38; Medical Research Council of Australia Project Grant (KLS, 338516); and by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program (Australia).

1. Preparation of Cells, Media, and Reagents
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of Methylcellulose-containing Medium
	<ol>
		<li>Dissolve 1.5 g of methylcellulose in 100 ml of sterile Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) (no additives) in a 250 ml flask.</li>
		<li>Heat the solution on low in a microwave for 5 min; take care to avoid boiling over.</li>
		<li>Once the methylcellulose powder is semi-dissolved, add a clean magnetic stirrer and media to take the volume to 125 ml.</li>
		<li>Mix, invert, and stir at room temperature for 1.5 hr, followed by stirring at 4 &#176;C overnight.</li>
		<li>Divide the solution equally into four 50 ml tubes and centrifuge for 1.5 hr at 2,300 x g.</li>
		<li>Collect the clear, highly viscous supernatant (approximately 90-95% of stock), aliquot into sterile 50 ml tubes, and store at 4 &#176;C for up to 3 months.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Culture and Labeling of Cells
	<ol>
		<li>Maintain ovarian cancer cell lines in monolayer in a tissue culture incubator at 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2 in appropriate growth media (DMEM for the KGN cells17 and MCBD110:M199 for the OVCA429 and OVCA433 cell lines18) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2 mM L-glutamine, and 1% penicillin-streptomycin.</li>
		<li>Maintain LP9 human mesothelial cells in M199:Hams F12 media containing 15% FBS, 10 ng/ml Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and 400 ng/ml hydrocortisone, in an incubator at 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2.</li>
		<li>Seed cells in the desired flask size and grow to approximately 75% confluency. Harvest cells by trypsinization using 0.05% trypsin/EDTA, spin at 186 x g for 5 min, and wash cell pellet twice with PBS.</li>
		<li>Count cells using a hemocytometer.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Optional Fluorescent Cell Labeling Method
	<ol>
		<li>Resuspend cancer cells at a final concentration of 1 x 106 cells/ml in 1 ml of prewarmed PBS/0.1% BSA.</li>
		<li>Add 2 &#956;l&#160;of 5 mM stock Cell Trace CSFE solution (or other preferred cell label which is retained long-term) to cells at a final concentration of 10 &#956;M and incubate at 37 &#176;C for 10-15 min in a waterbath.</li>
		<li>Quench the reaction with 1 ml of ice cold medium containing 10% FBS and re-pellet by centrifugation. Resuspend in 10 ml of the appropriate prewarmed growth medium (see Step 1.2.1).</li>
		<li>Seed cells into a 75 cm2 filter-capped flask and culture at 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2.</li>
		<li>Check cells under a fluorescence microscope to verify that the level of fluorescence labeling is adequate for detection. Once cells reach approximately 75% confluency, harvest and count as in steps 1.2.3 and 1.2.4 above.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Generation of Spheroids in Methylcellulose
<ol>
	<li>Calculate the volume of ovarian cancer cells from Section 1 needed for spheroid generation (a total of 300,000 cells are required for each full 96-well plate experiment). Note: if using different cell lines than presented here, cell densities for uniform spheroid generation may need to be optimized for each line.</li>
	<li>To calculate dilution of cells in methylcellulose media, firstly subtract the cell volume required (step 2.1) from 15 ml.</li>
	<li>Add 3 ml of methylcellulose stock solution (to make 20% methylcellulose final) to a volume of culture medium appropriate for each cell line, equal to 15 ml minus the cell volume and mix thoroughly by gentle inversion.</li>
	<li>Add 300,000 cells to the methylcellulose containing medium and mixed thoroughly by gentle inversion.</li>
	<li>Pipette 150 &#956;l of the cell/methylcellulose/media mix (for a total of 3,000 cells/well) into each well of a 96-well concave bottom culture plate and culture at 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2 for 1-4 days or until uniform spheroids form (1&#160;spheroid/well is typically observed).</li>
</ol>
3. RTCA Cell Invasion Assays
NOTE: Impedance readings are expressed as Cell Index (CI), a dimensionless parameter which is a relative change in measured cell impedance representing the cell status. For analysis, import data into a spreadsheet, such as Microsoft Excel.
<ol>
	<li>Plate Preparation
	<ol>
		<li>Working in groups of 4 wells at a time, add 50 &#956;l matrix (diluted 1:10 in serum-free culture media) to each well of the upper chamber of a 16-well RTCA CIM plate to ensure that the total surface area is covered. Remove 30&#160;&#956;l of matrix immediately, but slowly, to get rid of any excess fluid.</li>
		<li>Incubate plate at 37 &#176;C for 4 hr prior to use in a tissue culture incubator.</li>
		<li>Add 30 &#956;l of the serum-free medium (SFM) appropriate for each cancer cell line to the upper chamber and 160 &#956;l of media with or without serum (as per your experimental design) to the lower chamber.</li>
		<li>Assemble the CIM plate by clicking the lower chamber into the upper chamber and equilibrate in a 37 &#176;C incubator for 1 hr in a tissue culture incubator.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Programming the RTCA Instrument
	<ol>
		<li>Open the RTCA program and select the &#8217;Layout&#8217; tab. Highlight all experimental wells.</li>
		<li>Right click on wells and select &#39;Turn on wells&#39;; then fill in experimental conditions and cell names as desired.</li>
		<li>To add steps or substeps to the program, select the &#8217;Schedule&#8217; tab and right click on &#8216;Add a step&#8217;. The first step is a preprogrammed background sweep, which is automatically incorporated into the program once &#8216;add a step&#8217; is chosen.</li>
		<li>Enter the desired program details for Step 2 of the RTCA program, which will record readings during the establishment of the LP9 monolayer. Add the time intervals between impedance readings by selecting the &#8216;Interval&#8217; tab and entering &#8216;15 min&#8217;. Add experimental duration by selecting the &#8216;Duration&#8217; tab and entering a time between 12-24 hr.</li>
		<li>To add subsequent steps, select the &#8217;Schedule&#8217; tab and right click on &#8216;Add a step&#8217; and enter details of the additional steps, as above. Step 3 of the RTCA program will direct the instrument to take readings during spheroid invasion; enter &#8216;5 min&#8217; under the &#8216;Interval&#8217; tab and &#8217;48 hr&#8217; under the &#8216;Duration&#8217; tab.</li>
		<li>Select &#8217;Plate&#8217; on the menu bar and save.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Generation of LP9 Monolayer and Measurement of Spheroid Invasion
	<ol>
		<li>Place CIM plate in RTCA instrument and open program from Step 3.2 above. Prior to adding cells, select &#8217;Execute&#8217; in the menu bar and then &#8216;Start&#8217;. A background sweep will automatically be performed (Step 1 in the RTCA software instructions).</li>
		<li>Remove the CIM plate from the instrument following the background sweep and place in a tissue culture hood.</li>
		<li>Plate 50,000 LP9 cells suspended in 160&#160;&#956;l SFM into the upper chamber of each CIM plate well.</li>
		<li>Place the plate in the RTCA instrument and take readings every 15 min while the LP9 monolayer is establishing overnight (Step 2 of the RTCA program).</li>
		<li>Harvest cancer spheroids generated under Step 2 &#8216;Generation of spheroids in methylcellulose&#8217;, above.
		<ol>
			<li>Aseptically, cut 1 mm off the top of a 1 ml pipette tip and use to gently retrieve the contents of each well. Transfer to a sterile tube.</li>
			<li>Centrifuge spheroids at 120 x g for 8 min, and remove methylcellulose containing medium by gentle aspiration.</li>
			<li>Wash spheroids twice more with PBS, centrifuging at 120 x g for 8 min to pellet spheroids after each wash.</li>
			<li>For each experimental well, resuspend a total of 10 spheroids in 160 &#956;l of medium without FBS.</li>
			<li>Pause the RTCA experiment by selecting &#8216;Execute&#8217; from the menu bar and checking &#8216;Pause&#8217;. Remove the CIM plate from the instrument, and place in a tissue culture hood. Aspirate off the media from each well and replace with spheroid-containing media (10 spheres in 160 &#956;l) or fresh media for LP9-only control wells.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Return the plate to the RTCA instrument. Select &#8216;Execute&#8217; from the menu bar and check &#8217;Abort step&#8217;. The program will move to the next step automatically. To resume the experiment, select &#8216;Execute&#8217; from the menu bar and check &#8216;Start/Continue&#8217;. Step 3 in the RTCA program will initiate.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Data Analysis
	<ol>
		<li>To determine the level of spheroid cell invasiveness, subtract the values obtained for the LP9 monolayer only from the individual readings obtained for the ovarian cancer cell lines at each timepoint.</li>
		<li>To plot &#39;spheroid invasion&#39;, normalize all values to the time point at which the spheroids were added to the plate, by setting that time point to &#39;0&#39;.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Ferlay, J., 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=Estimates+of+worldwide+burden+of+cancer+in+2008:+GLOBOCAN.">Estimates of worldwide burden of cancer in 2008: GLOBOCAN.</a> Int J Cancer. 127, 2893-2917 (2008).</li><li>Ahmed, N., Stenvers, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Getting+to+know+ovarian+cancer+ascites:+opportunities+for+targeted+therapy-+based+translational+research.">Getting to know ovarian cancer ascites: opportunities for targeted therapy- based translational research.</a> Frontiers in Oncology. 3, (2013).</li><li>Karst, A. M., Drapkin, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ovarian+cancer+pathogenesis:+a+model+in+evolution.">Ovarian cancer pathogenesis: a model in evolution.</a> J Oncol. 2010, (2010).</li><li>Lengyel, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ovarian+cancer+development+and+metastasis.">Ovarian cancer development and metastasis.</a> Am J Pathol. 177, 1053-1064 (2010).</li><li>Shield, K., Ackland, M. L., Ahmed, N., Rice, G. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multicellular+spheroids+in+ovarian+cancer+metastases:+Biology+and+pathology.">Multicellular spheroids in ovarian cancer metastases: Biology and pathology.</a> Gynecol Oncol. 113, 143-148 (2009).</li><li>Hudson, L. G., Zeineldin, R., Stack, M. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phenotypic+plasticity+of+neoplastic+ovarian+epithelium:+unique+cadherin+profiles+in+tumor+progression.">Phenotypic plasticity of neoplastic ovarian epithelium: unique cadherin profiles in tumor progression.</a> Clin Exp Metastasis. 25, 643-655 (2008).</li><li>Burleson, K. M., Boente, M. P., Pambuccian, S. E., Skubitz, A. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Disaggregation+and+invasion+of+ovarian+carcinoma+ascites+spheroids.">Disaggregation and invasion of ovarian carcinoma ascites spheroids.</a> J Transl Med. 4, 6 (2006).</li><li>Burleson, K. 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=Ovarian+carcinoma+ascites+spheroids+adhere+to+extracellular+matrix+components+and+mesothelial+cell+monolayers.">Ovarian carcinoma ascites spheroids adhere to extracellular matrix components and mesothelial cell monolayers.</a> Gynecol Oncol. 93, 170-181 (2004).</li><li>Burleson, K. M., Hansen, L. K., Skubitz, A. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ovarian+carcinoma+spheroids+disaggregate+on+type+I+collagen+and+invade+live+human+mesothelial+cell+monolayers.">Ovarian carcinoma spheroids disaggregate on type I collagen and invade live human mesothelial cell monolayers.</a> Clin Exp Metastasis. 21, 685-697 (2004).</li><li>Kenny, H. A., Kaur, S., Coussens, L. M., Lengyel, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+initial+steps+of+ovarian+cancer+cell+metastasis+are+mediated+by+MMP-2+cleavage+of+vitronectin+and+fibronectin.">The initial steps of ovarian cancer cell metastasis are mediated by MMP-2 cleavage of vitronectin and fibronectin.</a> J Clin Invest. 118, 1367-1379 (2008).</li><li>Kenny, H. A., Nieman, K. M., Mitra, A. K., Lengyel, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+First+Line+of+Abdominal+Metastatic+Attack:+Breaching+the+Mesothelial+Cell+Layer.">The First Line of Abdominal Metastatic Attack: Breaching the Mesothelial Cell Layer.</a> Cancer Discov. 1, 100-102 (2011).</li><li>Hattermann, K., Held-Feindt, J., Mentlein, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spheroid+confrontation+assay:+a+simple+method+to+monitor+the+three-dimensional+migration+of+different+cell+types+in+vitro.">Spheroid confrontation assay: a simple method to monitor the three-dimensional migration of different cell types in vitro.</a> Ann Anat. 193, 181-184 (2011).</li><li>Laib, A. 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=Spheroid-based+human+endothelial+cell+microvessel+formation+in+vivo.">Spheroid-based human endothelial cell microvessel formation in vivo.</a> Nat Protoc. 4, 1202-1215 (2009).</li><li>Latifi, 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=Isolation+and+characterization+of+tumor+cells+from+the+ascites+of+ovarian+cancer+patients:+molecular+phenotype+of+chemoresistant+ovarian+tumors.">Isolation and characterization of tumor cells from the ascites of ovarian cancer patients: molecular phenotype of chemoresistant ovarian tumors.</a> PLoS One. 7, (2012).</li><li>Davidowitz, R. A., Iwanicki, M. P., Brugge, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+mesothelial+clearance+assay+that+models+the+early+steps+of+ovarian+cancer+metastasis.">In vitro mesothelial clearance assay that models the early steps of ovarian cancer metastasis.</a> J Vis Exp. (60), (2012).</li><li>Iwanicki, M. P., 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=Ovarian+cancer+spheroids+use+myosin-generated+force+to+clear+the+mesothelium.">Ovarian cancer spheroids use myosin-generated force to clear the mesothelium.</a> Cancer Discov. 1, 144-157 (2011).</li><li>Nishi, Y., 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=Establishment+and+characterization+of+a+steroidogenic+human+granulosa-like+tumor+cell+line,+KGN,+that+expresses+functional+follicle-stimulating+hormone+receptor.">Establishment and characterization of a steroidogenic human granulosa-like tumor cell line, KGN, that expresses functional follicle-stimulating hormone receptor.</a> Endocrinology. 142, 437-445 (2001).</li><li>Xu, 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=The+outcome+of+heregulin-induced+activation+of+ovarian+cancer+cells+depends+on+the+relative+levels+of+HER-2+and+HER-3+expression.">The outcome of heregulin-induced activation of ovarian cancer cells depends on the relative levels of HER-2 and HER-3 expression.</a> Clin Cancer Res. 5, 3653-3660 (1999).</li></ol>

Open access fee paid for by ACEA Biosciences, Inc. and MIMR-PHI Institute of Medical Research.

Invading ovarian cancer cells interact with a variety of cell types at the surface of the peritoneum, including fibroblasts, adipocytes, and mesothelial cells, and bidirectional communication between the cancer cells and peritoneal cells is thought to play key roles in driving the metastatic process2. Once mastered, the protocol described herein is readily adaptable to the study of these interactions within the peritoneal microenvironment, e.g., through the addition of exogenous cytokines, growth factors, or specific inhibitors to the upper or lower chambers of the CIM plate well or genetic manipulation of the cancer or peritoneal cell lines. Furthermore, this method can be used with primary ovarian tumor cells harvested freshly from malignant ascites and/or primary peritoneal cells to gain direct insights into the regulatory signals and cellular interactions which govern the establishment of a metastatic lesion within the peritoneal cavity2.
Use of the RTCA instrument to measure the invasive capacity of single cells or spheroids offers several advantages over conventional single endpoint assays and time-lapse image analyses. The RTCA instrument measures cellular invasion at defined intervals continuously over the course of an assay, which can be hours or days. This enables the determination of changes in the rate of invasion over time, which overcomes the limitations of single endpoint assays. For example, examining the invasion data from the different cancer cell lines at a single endpoint (Figure 2), e.g., 3 hr, might have led to the erroneous conclusion that KGN and OVCA433 cells were far more invasive than OVCA429 cells. Another advantage of this technology is that the RTCA instrument measures changes in electrical impedance. This means that assays can be run without labeling cells with an exogenous agent, which could have unintended effects on cell phenotype or function. This becomes particularly important when studying primary ovarian cancer cells derived from malignant ascites, with which it is imperative to keep manipulations to a minimum so as to avoid introducing molecular and phenotypic changes which are not reflective of their in vivo nature2. Furthermore, use of the RTCA instrument enables the collection of quantitative data in real time, which not only avoids the time consuming analyses associated with time-lapse microscopy but also enables the rapid determination of key experimental windows for assay optimization. This is particularly useful when comparing the effects of a range of factors on spheroid invasion, as different factors may exert their maximal effects at different timepoints or with greatly different profiles over time.
Although this protocol is amenable to alterations (e.g., use of different ECM matrix, different cancer cell lines, or different target cells), if doing so, it is important to note that various experimental conditions must first be optimized. For example, prior to commencing studies of spheroid invasion, the optimal number of cancer cells/CIM plate well should firstly be determined by assay of cell number titrations in monolayer culture.&#160;The optimal number of spheroids to use per well is then based on this analysis. For example, in the current method, spheroids comprise approximately 3,000 cells each when first generated. If initial cell number titrations indicate that 30,000 cells in monolayer are optimal for detection in invasion analyses, then 10 spheroids are added per CIM plate well. Furthermore, when conducting co-culture experiments, it is important to study the behaviors of the &#8216;target&#8217; cell monolayer separately in order to determine whether these cells are inherently invasive, as this could confound the results. In the example demonstrated, cancer spheroids are plated on top of an LP9 cell monolayer, with and without FBS added to the bottom well as a chemoattractant. In parallel, LP9 cells are cultured alone, under each treatment condition.
Similarly, when studying the invasive capacity of cells and spheroids, it is also important to examine their migratory capacities as well in order to distinguish the two behaviors (i.e. invasion requires the proteolytic digestion of an ECM barrier while migration does not). To do this, omit the ECM barrier (Steps 3.1.1 - 3.1.3) and conduct the assay in parallel with the ECM barrier in place. The latter &#8216;invasion&#8217; measure can be corrected to the former &#8216;migration&#8217; measure, if desired. Finally, it is important to note that the information gained from measures of electrical impedance is limited in scope: once cells have invaded into the bottom chamber, changes in their attachment, spreading, and proliferation on the underside of the membrane may contribute to changes in impedance readings. Therefore, this methodology is most informative when used in conjunction with other assays of spheroid cell viability, adhesion, migration, and morphology in order to comprehensively assess spheroid cell behaviors. For example, ideally, in order to fully understand spheroid-mesothelial interactions, separate co-cultures should also be imaged periodically under standard phase microscopy so that qualitative assessments of spheroid morphology and health can be made in parallel with quantitative RTCA assays of invasion. If the optional labeling step is performed, then the behaviors of single cancer cells can be determined under fluorescent microscopy as they disaggregate from the spheroid and interact with the unlabeled mesothelial cells. An added benefit of fluorescently labeling the cancer cells when co-culturing with a second cell type is that it is then possible to confirm that only the cancer cells have invaded through the&#160;cell and ECM barriers.
In summary, this method represents a high throughput quantitative analysis of ovarian cancer spheroid invasion of mesothelial and ECM barriers. Through the addition of exogenous cytokines, growth factors, or specific inhibitors to the upper or lower chambers of the CIM plate well, this method enables a rapid, determination of factors which regulate the interactions between ovarian cancer spheroid cells invading through mesothelial and matrix barriers over time.

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate of all gynaecological cancers1. Worldwide, there are ~230,000 cases and over 100,000 deaths due to the disease each year1. Most patients (&#62;75%) are diagnosed after the cancer has already metastasized, when treatment is further complicated by increased resistance to chemotherapy and the prognosis is poor2. Patients with stage III-IV metastatic disease have 5 year survival rates of only 30-40%3. Thus, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of the cellular behaviors underlying ovarian cancer metastasis in order to effectively treat advanced disease.
The current model of ovarian cancer metastasis proposes several steps in the metastatic process, each of which occurs in a distinct microenvironment which impacts on tumor behavior. Metastasizing ovarian cancer cells initially are shed from the primary tumor site and survive in a nonadherent state within the peritoneal fluid as single cells or three-dimensional multicellular structures, termed multicellular aggregates or spheroids2,4,5. Cells which do not form spheroids in suspension are more susceptible to anoikis2,4,5. Spheroids also exhibit increased resistance to chemotherapeutics, contributing to residual disease and subsequent recurrence of the cancer2,4,5. A second critical step in ovarian cancer metastasis is the transition of aggregates from free-floating clusters to established secondary tumors within the peritoneal wall and omentum5,6. Cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions have been implicated in aggregate formation, survival, and adherence to the extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by the mesothelial lining of the peritoneum4-11. As yet, these processes are poorly understood.
To define the mechanisms involved in the dissemination of ovarian cancers, spheroids can be generated from established cancer cell lines using nonadherent culture methods, maintaining cells in suspension either by adding methylcellulose to the culture media12,13 or by culturing cells on low-attachment plates2,14. When cultured in this manner, ovarian cancer cells assemble into multicellular aggregates or spheroids which exhibit similar cellular, molecular, and biochemical properties to those of tumor aggregates found in vivo2,14. After formation, spheroids can be subsequently harvested from the nonadherent medium and replated onto a variety of solid surfaces for further functional studies. This represents an advance over assays in monolayer culture, which do not accurately model the behaviors of ovarian cancer cells metastasizing within a nonadherent environment such as the intraperitoneal fluid.
The invasive capacity of cancer spheroids can be assessed in traditional endpoint assays in Boyden chambers2, but this approach can be misleading, as ovarian cancer cell invasion is a dynamic process over time. A recent real-time method has been devised using time-lapse video microscopy of mesothelial cell clearance by invading ovarian cancer spheroids15,16; however, analysis of time lapse data is time consuming and can be subjective. Herein, a rapid, quantitative method for assessing the invasive behaviors of ovarian cancer spheroids in real-time is described. Firstly, a spheroid-mesothelial cell model was established which represents the stage of ovarian cancer metastasis when multicellular spheroids attach to and invade the peritoneal lining to form secondary tumors. Then methodology for a Real Time Cell Analyzer (RTCA; see the Materials table&#160;for company details) was adapted to conduct quantitative real time measurements of the invasive capacity of different ovarian cancer cell lines grown as spheroids and tested in this model.
In the RTCA instrument, cellular responses are monitored continuously over the course of an assay, without the need for exogenous labels, by measuring changes in electrical impedance. Specially designed culture plates have gold coated microelectrodes located underneath a microporous membrane at the interface between the upper and lower chambers of a 2 chambered well ('CIM' plates). The location of the electrodes in the lower chamber enables measurement of changes in electrical impedance as cells invade through an ECM or ECM/cellular barrier. The membrane interface between the 2 chambers of each CIM plate well is firstly coated with the ECM component of interest. In the spheroid-mesothelial cell model system, the interface is coated with a layer of Matrigel (see the Materials table for company details), to mimic the complex ECM underlying the mesothelial lining of the peritoneum, followed by a confluent monolayer of human mesothelial 'target' cells. Finally, pre-formed ovarian cancer spheroids are added. Ovarian cancer spheroid cells must actively invade through the target cells layer and matrix to reach the bottom chamber and alter electrical impedance readings. Target cells on their own are also assessed to ensure that they do not invade through the matrix layer and are suitable for use in this assay.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="734">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:293px;">xCELLigence RTCA DP Analyser</td>
			<td style="width:291px;">ACEA biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">RTCA DP</td>
			<td style="width:64px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">xCELLigence CIM plates&#160;</td>
			<td>ACEA biosciences</td>
			<td>5665817001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cell TraceTM CFSE&#160;</td>
			<td>Molecular Probes</td>
			<td>C34554</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Methylcellulose (4000 centipose)&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M0512</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="23">
			<td height="23" style="height:23px;width:293px;">Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>Life Technologies&#160;</td>
			<td>11966-025</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:293px;">Medium 199&#160;</td>
			<td>Life Technologies&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">11150067</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:293px;">Ham&#39;s F-12 Nutrient mix</td>
			<td>Life Technologies&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">11765062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)</td>
			<td>PeproTech&#160;</td>
			<td>100-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Hydrocortisone&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H4001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Trypsin EDTA</td>
			<td style="width:291px;">Gibco-Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">15400-054</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">96-well concave culture plate&#160;</td>
			<td>Grenier Bio-One</td>
			<td>650185</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">LP9 Human mesothelial cell line</td>
			<td>Coriell Institute for Medical Research&#160;</td>
			<td>AG07086</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Growth Factor-reduced Matrigel matrix</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences&#160;</td>
			<td>354230</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

assessment of ovarian cancer spheroid attachment and invasion of mesothelial cells in real time

Ovarian cancers metastasize by shedding into the peritoneal fluid and dispersing to distal sites within the peritoneum. Monolayer cultures do not accurately model the behaviors of cancer cells within a nonadherent environment, as cancer cells inherently aggregate into multicellular structures which contribute to the metastatic process by attaching to and invading the peritoneal lining to form secondary tumors. To model this important stage of ovarian cancer metastasis, multicellular aggregates, or spheroids, can be generated from established ovarian cancer cell lines maintained under nonadherent conditions. To mimic the peritoneal microenvironment encountered by tumor cells in vivo, a spheroid-mesothelial co-culture model was established in which preformed spheroids are plated on top of a human mesothelial cell monolayer, formed over an extracellular matrix barrier. Methods were then developed using a real-time cell analyzer to conduct quantitative real time measurements of the invasive capacity of different ovarian cancer cell lines grown as spheroids. This approach allows for the continuous measurement of invasion over long periods of time, which has several advantages over traditional endpoint assays and more laborious real time microscopy image analyses. In short, this method enables a rapid, determination of factors which regulate the interactions between ovarian cancer spheroid cells invading through mesothelial and matrix barriers over time.

Ovarian cancer spheroids can be generated from many types of cell lines by culturing them in suspension or by harvesting primary tumor cells from malignant ascites2,14. Here two epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines, OVCA433 and OVCA429, and an ovarian granulosa cell tumor line, KGN, have been used to generate spheroids (Figure 1A). In this method, cells are cultured in U-bottomed wells while suspended in media which has been made viscous by the addition of methylcellulose. Under these conditions, many ovarian cancer cells exhibit an inherent ability to aggregate to form spheroids13. Following overnight culture suspended in methylcellulose/media, all three cell lines formed compact spheroid structures of approximately 400-500&#160;&#956;m in diameter (Figure 1A). Meanwhile, the RTCA CIM plate is prepared, firstly by coating the porous membrane interface with matrix and then a confluent monolayer of human mesothelial cells (Figure 1B). Once formed, spheroids are then transferred to the prepared CIM plate. Harvested cancer spheroids are plated on top of the LP9 monolayer and assessed as described below. Images under standard phase microscopy (or under fluorescent microscopy, if the optional cell labeling step was followed) of parallel cultures are taken periodically to aid in the interpretation of the RTCA data (Figure 1C).
It is informative to assess both the basal level of invasion of a cancer cell line, as well as chemoattractant-induced invasion. Typically, basal invasiveness is measured by the addition of SFM to both the upper and lower chambers. Complete media (10% FBS), which contains many potential chemoattractants, is used in the current example to examine &#8216;chemoattractant-induced&#8217; invasion (Figure 2). Parallel studies of LP9 mesothelial cells alone confirmed that these cells are minimally invasive over 2 days under either basal or &#8216;chemoattractant&#8217; induced conditions and thus were a good cell type to use in co-culture assays with ovarian cancer cells (Figures 2A&#160;and 2B). In contrast, ovarian cancer spheroids generated using any of the three cell lines exhibited the capacity to invade toward a chemoattractant (FBS) (Figures 2A-2C). The major advantage of using the RTCA real time instruments over traditional endpoint assays is that changes in cell/spheroid behavior can be quantified over time. Over the 2 day assay, the KGN, OVCA429, and OVCA433 cell lines all exhibited the capacity to invade toward a chemoattractant (indicated by increasing cell indices) but low basal levels of invasion (Figure 2C). The cell lines exhibited similar rates of invasion, as indicated by the parallel slopes of the curves (Figure 2C); however, the OVCA429 curve exhibited a higher upper asymptote, which indicated a higher maximal level of invasion compared to the other cell lines. Furthermore, the cell lines exhibited differences in their times to onset of invasion, with the KGN cells quickly invading the cell and matrix barriers and the OVCA433 and OVCA429 cells taking 3-5x longer to invade, respectively (Figure 2D). Importantly, their behaviors at the onset of invasion were not predictive of their overall capacity for invasion (Figures 2C&#160;and&#160;2D). This suggests different inherent capabilities of the cancer cell lines but also may indicate that different factors may regulate early and late invasive behaviors of spheroids.
<img alt="Figure 1" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/51655/51655fig1highres.jpg" width="500" /> 
Figure 1. Spheroid generation and model of experimental set up. A: Images under phase contrast microscopy of spheroids forming in methylcellulose/media (top) and of the matching cell line grown as a monolayer (bottom). B: Schematic showing the RTCA 2 chambered CIM plate well set up, in which pre-formed ovarian cancer spheroids are plated on top of a monolayer of an LP9 mesothelial layer/matrix barrier in the upper chamber and media &#177;FBS as a chemoattractant is added to the lower chamber. Electrodes underneath the interface of the 2 chambers measure increasing electrical impedance as more cells invade through the barriers to the lower chamber. C: Images of KGN spheroids on top of the LP9 monolayer under phase contrast microscopy (left) or fluorescence microscopy (right). Scale bars =&#160;100 &#956;m. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/51655/51655fig1highres.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" fo:content-width="5in" src="/files/ftp_upload/51655/51655fig2highres.jpg" width="500" /> 
Figure 2. Real time ovarian cancer spheroid invasion data. A - B: Representative results from an RTCA invasion assay conducted with and without FBS in the bottom chamber of a CIM plate well. KGN cell invasion is compared to LP9 mesothelial cells. Results are shown as mean &#177;&#160;SD Cell Index from triplicate wells at the 24 hr timepoint (A) and over an entire two day assay period (B). C - D: A comparison of the invasive capacity of KGN, OVCA429, and OVCA433 cell lines depicted over a 24 hr period (C) and in more detailed fashion over a 2.5 hr time period (D).

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Assessment of Ovarian Cancer Spheroid Attachment and Invasion of Mesothelial Cells in Real Time at JoVE.com

Assessment of Ovarian Cancer Spheroid Attachment and Invasion of Mesothelial Cells in Real Time

Ovarian cancer cell invasion into the mesothelial lining of the peritoneum is a dynamic process over time. Utilizing a real time analyzer, the invasive capacity of ovarian cancer cells in a spheroid-mesothelial cell co-culture model can be quantified over prolonged time periods, providing insights into factors regulating the metastatic process.

Ovarian cancers metastasize by shedding into the peritoneal fluid and dispersing to distal sites within the peritoneum. Monolayer cultures do not ...

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17.2K Views.  MIMR-PHI Institute of Medical Research. Ovarian cancer cell invasion into the mesothelial lining of the peritoneum is a dynamic process over time. Utilizing a real time analyzer, the invasive capacity of ovarian cancer cells in a spheroid-mesothelial cell co-culture model can be quantified over prolonged time periods, providing insights into factors regulating the metastatic process.

Video: Assessment of Ovarian Cancer Spheroid Attachment and Invasion of Mesothelial Cells in Real Time

A Real-time Electrical Impedance Based Technique to Measure Invasion of Endothelial Cell Monolayer by Cancer Cells

Metastatic dissemination of malignant cells requires degradation of basement membrane, attachment of tumor cells to vascular endothelium, retraction of endothelial junctions and finally invasion and migration of tumor cells through the endothelial layer to enter the bloodstream as a means of transport to distant sites in the host1-3. Once in the circulatory system, cancer cells adhere to capillary walls and extravasate to the surrounding tissue to form metastatic tumors4,5. The various components of tumor cell-endothelial cell interaction can be replicated in vitro by challenging a monolayer of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with cancer cells. Studies performed with electron and phase-contrast microscopy suggest that the in vitro sequence of events fairly represent the in vivo metastatic process6. Here, we describe an electrical-impedance based technique that monitors and quantifies in real-time the invasion of endothelial cells by malignant tumor cells.
Giaever and Keese first described a technique for measuring fluctuations in impedance when a population of cells grow on the surface of electrodes7,8. The xCELLigence instrument, manufactured by Roche, utilizes a similar technique to measure changes in electrical impedance as cells attach and spread in a culture dish covered with a gold microelectrode array that covers approximately 80% of the area on the bottom of a well. As cells attach and spread on the electrode surface, it leads to an increase in electrical impedance9-12. The impedance is displayed as a dimensionless parameter termed cell-index, which is directly proportional to the total area of tissue-culture well that is covered by cells. Hence, the cell-index can be used to monitor cell adhesion, spreading, morphology and cell density.
The invasion assay described in this article is based on changes in electrical impedance at the electrode/cell interphase, as a population of malignant cells invade through a HUVEC monolayer (Figure 1). The disruption of endothelial junctions, retraction of endothelial monolayer and replacement by tumor cells lead to large changes in impedance. These changes directly correlate with the invasive capacity of tumor cells, i.e., invasion by highly aggressive cells lead to large changes in cell impedance and vice versa. This technique provides a two-fold advantage over existing methods of measuring invasion, such as boyden chamber and matrigel assays: 1) the endothelial cell-tumor cell interaction more closely mimics the in vivo process, and 2) the data is obtained in real-time and is more easily quantifiable, as opposed to end-point analysis for other methods.

This article describes an in vitro technique for monitoring cancer cells invading through a monolayer of endothelial cells. The data is acquired in real-time as a function of changes in impedance on the surface of electrodes at the well bottom.

Metastatic dissemination of malignant cells requires degradation of basement membrane, attachment of tumor cells to vascular endothelium, retraction of ...

Evaluation of Nanoparticle Uptake in Tumors in Real Time Using Intravital Imaging

Current technologies for tumor imaging, such as ultrasound, MRI, PET and CT, are unable to yield high-resolution images for the assessment of nanoparticle uptake in tumors at the microscopic level1,2,3, highlighting the utility of a suitable xenograft model in which to perform detailed uptake analyses. Here, we use high-resolution intravital imaging to evaluate nanoparticle uptake in human tumor xenografts in a modified, shell-less chicken embryo model. The chicken embryo model is particularly well-suited for these in vivo analyses because it supports the growth of human tumors, is relatively inexpensive and does not require anesthetization or surgery 4,5. Tumor cells form fully vascularized xenografts within 7 days when implanted into the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) 6. The resulting tumors are visualized by non-invasive real-time, high-resolution imaging that can be maintained for up to 72 hours with little impact on either the host or tumor systems. Nanoparticles with a wide range of sizes and formulations administered distal to the tumor can be visualized and quantified as they flow through the bloodstream, extravasate from leaky tumor vasculature, and accumulate at the tumor site. We describe here the analysis of nanoparticles derived from Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) decorated with near-infrared fluorescent dyes and/or polyethylene glycol polymers (PEG) 7, 8, 9,10,11. Upon intravenous administration, these viral nanoparticles are rapidly internalized by endothelial cells, resulting in global labeling of the vasculature both outside and within the tumor7,12. PEGylation of the viral nanoparticles increases their plasma half-life, extends their time in the circulation, and ultimately enhances their accumulation in tumors via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect 7, 10,11. The rate and extent of accumulation of nanoparticles in a tumor is measured over time using image analysis software. This technique provides a method to both visualize and quantify nanoparticle dynamics in human tumors.

We present a novel approach to quantify nanoparticle localization in the vasculature of human xenografted tumors using dynamic, real-time intravital imaging in an avian embryo model.

Current technologies for tumor imaging, such as ultrasound, MRI, PET and CT, are unable to yield high-resolution images for the assessment of nanoparticle ...

Multi-photon Imaging of Tumor Cell Invasion in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Loco-regional invasion of head and neck cancer is linked to metastatic risk and presents a difficult challenge in designing and implementing patient management strategies. Orthotopic mouse models of oral cancer have been developed to facilitate the study of factors that impact invasion and serve as model system for evaluating anti-tumor therapeutics. In these systems, visualization of disseminated tumor cells within oral cavity tissues has typically been conducted by either conventional histology or with in vivo bioluminescent methods. A primary drawback of these techniques is the inherent inability to accurately visualize and quantify early tumor cell invasion arising from the primary site in three dimensions. Here we describe a protocol that combines an established model for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (SCOT) with two-photon imaging to allow multi-vectorial visualization of lingual tumor spread. The OSC-19 head and neck tumor cell line was stably engineered to express the F-actin binding peptide LifeAct fused to the mCherry fluorescent protein (LifeAct-mCherry). Fox1nu/nu mice injected with these cells reliably form tumors that allow the tongue to be visualized by ex-vivo application of two-photon microscopy. This technique allows for the orthotopic visualization of the tumor mass and locally invading cells in excised tongues without disruption of the regional tumor microenvironment. In addition, this system allows for the quantification of tumor cell invasion by calculating distances that invaded cells move from the primary tumor site. Overall this procedure provides an enhanced model system for analyzing factors that contribute to SCOT invasion and therapeutic treatments tailored to prevent local invasion and distant metastatic spread. This method also has the potential to be ultimately combined with other imaging modalities in an in vivo setting.

A comprehensive overview of the techniques involved in generating a mouse model of oral cancer and quantitative monitoring of tumor invasion within the tongue through multi-photon microscopy of labeled cells is presented. This system can serve as a useful platform for the molecular assessment and drug efficacy of anti-invasive compounds.

Loco-regional invasion of head and neck cancer is linked to metastatic risk and presents a difficult challenge in designing and implementing patient ...

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-&#946;-induced Invasion

TGF-&beta; has opposing roles in breast cancer progression by acting as a tumor suppressor in the initial phase, but stimulating invasion and metastasis at later stage1,2. Moreover, TGF-&beta; is frequently overexpressed in breast cancer and its expression correlates with poor prognosis and metastasis 3,4. The mechanisms by which TGF-&beta; induces invasion are not well understood.
TGF-&beta; elicits its cellular responses via TGF-&beta; type II (T&beta;RII) and type I (T&beta;RI) receptors. Upon TGF-&beta;-induced heteromeric complex formation, T&beta;RII phosphorylates the T&beta;RI. The activated T&beta;RI initiates its intracellular canonical signaling pathway by phosphorylating receptor Smads (R-Smads), i.e. Smad2 and Smad3. These activated R-Smads form heteromeric complexes with Smad4, which accumulate in the nucleus and regulate the transcription of target genes5. In addition to the previously described Smad pathway, receptor activation results in activation of several other non-Smad signaling pathways, for example Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways6.
To study the role of TGF-&beta; in different stages of breast cancer, we made use of the MCF10A cell system. This system consists of spontaneously immortalized MCF10A1 (M1) breast epithelial cells7, the H-RAS transformed M1-derivative MCF10AneoT (M2), which produces premalignant lesions in mice8, and the M2-derivative MCF10CA1a (M4), which was established from M2 xenografts and forms high grade carcinomas with the ability to metastasize to the lung9. This MCF10A series offers the possibility to study the responses of cells with different grades of malignancy that are not biased by a different genetic background.
For the analysis of TGF-&beta;-induced invasion, we generated homotypic MCF10A spheroid cell cultures embedded in a 3D collagen matrix in vitro (Fig 1). Such models closely resemble human tumors in vivo by establishing a gradient of oxygen and nutrients, resulting in active and invasive cells on the outside and quiescent or even necrotic cells in the inside of the spheroid10. Spheroid based assays have also been shown to better recapitulate drug resistance than monolayer cultures11. This MCF10 3D model system allowed us to investigate the impact of TGF-&beta; signaling on the invasive properties of breast cells in different stages of malignancy.

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-&amp;#946;-induced Invasion

An assay to quantitatively measure Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-&#x03B2;-induced invasion in 3-dimensional collagen gels is described. This assay takes advantage of the MCF10A series of cell lines, which represent different stages of breast cancer development. This method can be adopted to be used with other cell lines and might be used to investigate other potential activators or inhibitors of invasion.

TGF-&beta; has opposing roles in breast cancer progression by acting as a tumor suppressor in the initial phase, but stimulating invasion and metastasis ...

In vitro Mesothelial Clearance Assay that Models the Early Steps of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States1. Despite a positive initial response to therapies, 70 to 90 percent of women with ovarian cancer develop new metastases, and the recurrence is often fatal2. It is, therefore, necessary to understand how secondary metastases arise in order to develop better treatments for intermediate and late stage ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer metastasis occurs when malignant cells detach from the primary tumor site and disseminate throughout the peritoneal cavity. The disseminated cells can form multicellular clusters, or spheroids, that will either remain unattached, or implant onto organs within the peritoneal cavity3 (Figure 1, Movie 1). 
All of the organs within the peritoneal cavity are lined with a single, continuous, layer of mesothelial cells4-6 (Figure 2). However, mesothelial cells are absent from underneath peritoneal tumor masses, as revealed by electron micrograph studies of excised human tumor tissue sections3,5-7 (Figure 2). This suggests that mesothelial cells are excluded from underneath the tumor mass by an unknown process. 
Previous in vitro experiments demonstrated that primary ovarian cancer cells attach more efficiently to extracellular matrix than to mesothelial cells8, and more recent studies showed that primary peritoneal mesothelial cells actually provide a barrier to ovarian cancer cell adhesion and invasion (as compared to adhesion and invasion on substrates that were not covered with mesothelial cells)9,10. This would suggest that mesothelial cells act as a barrier against ovarian cancer metastasis. The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which ovarian cancer cells breach this barrier, and exclude the mesothelium have, until recently, remained unknown. 
Here we describe the methodology for an in vitro assay that models the interaction between ovarian cancer cell spheroids and mesothelial cells in vivo (Figure 3, Movie 2). Our protocol was adapted from previously described methods for analyzing ovarian tumor cell interactions with mesothelial monolayers8-16, and was first described in a report showing that ovarian tumor cells utilize an integrin &#x2013;dependent activation of myosin and traction force to promote the exclusion of the mesothelial cells from under a tumor spheroid17. This model takes advantage of time-lapse fluorescence microscopy to monitor the two cell populations in real time, providing spatial and temporal information on the interaction. The ovarian cancer cells express red fluorescent protein (RFP) while the mesothelial cells express green fluorescent protein (GFP). RFP-expressing ovarian cancer cell spheroids attach to the GFP-expressing mesothelial monolayer. The spheroids spread, invade, and force the mesothelial cells aside creating a hole in the monolayer. This hole is visualized as the negative space (black) in the GFP image. The area of the hole can then be measured to quantitatively analyze differences in clearance activity between control and experimental populations of ovarian cancer and/ or mesothelial cells. This assay requires only a small number of ovarian cancer cells (100 cells per spheroid X 20-30 spheroids per condition), so it is feasible to perform this assay using precious primary tumor cell samples. Furthermore, this assay can be easily adapted for high throughput screening.

In vitro Mesothelial Clearance Assay that Models the Early Steps of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

The mesothelial clearance assay described here takes advantage of fluorescently labeled cells and time-lapse video microscopy to visualize and quantitatively measure the interactions of ovarian cancer multicellular spheroids and mesothelial cell monolayers. This assay models the early steps of ovarian cancer metastasis.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States1. Despite a positive initial response to therapies, 70 to 90 ...

Cerebrospinal Fluid MicroRNA Profiling Using Quantitative Real Time PCR

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a potent layer of gene regulation by guiding RISC to target sites located on mRNAs and, consequently, by modulating their translational repression. Changes in miRNA expression have been shown to be involved in the development of all major complex diseases. Furthermore, recent findings showed that miRNAs can be secreted to the extracellular environment and enter the bloodstream and other body fluids where they can circulate with high stability. The function of such circulating miRNAs remains largely elusive, but systematic high throughput approaches, such as miRNA profiling arrays, have lead to the identification of miRNA signatures in several pathological conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders and several types of cancers. In this context, the identification of miRNA expression profile in the cerebrospinal fluid, as reported in our recent study, makes miRNAs attractive candidates for biomarker analysis.
There are several tools available for profiling microRNAs, such as microarrays, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), and deep sequencing. Here, we describe a sensitive method to profile microRNAs in cerebrospinal fluids by quantitative real-time PCR. We used the Exiqon microRNA ready-to-use PCR human panels I and II V2.R, which allows detection of 742 unique human microRNAs. We performed the arrays in triplicate runs and we processed and analyzed data using the GenEx Professional 5 software.
Using this protocol, we have successfully profiled microRNAs in various types of cell lines and primary cells, CSF, plasma, and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.

We describe a protocol of real time PCR to profile microRNAs in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). With the exception of RNA extraction protocols, the procedure can be extended to RNA extracted from other body fluids, cultured cells, or tissue specimens.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a potent layer of gene regulation by guiding RISC to target sites located on mRNAs and, consequently, by modulating their ...

Method for Obtaining Primary Ovarian Cancer Cells From Solid Specimens

Reliable tools for investigating ovarian cancer initiation and progression are urgently needed. While the use of ovarian cancer cell lines remains a valuable tool for understanding ovarian cancer, their use has many limitations. These include the lack of heterogeneity and the plethora of genetic alterations associated with extended in vitro passaging.&#160;Here we describe a method that allows for rapid establishment of primary ovarian cancer cells form solid clinical specimens collected at the time of surgery. The method consists of subjecting clinical specimens to enzymatic digestion for 30 min. The isolated cell suspension is allowed to grow and can be used for downstream application including drug screening. The advantage of primary ovarian cancer cell lines over established ovarian cancer cell lines is that they are representative of the original specific clinical specimens they are derived from and can be derived from different sites whether primary or metastatic ovarian cancer.

This study describes a detailed method for isolation and characterization of primary ovarian cancer cells from solid clinical specimens. Ovarian cancer clinical specimens are subjected to enzymatic digestion to obtain viable, fibroblast-free epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells highly suitable for downstream applications.

Reliable tools for investigating ovarian cancer initiation and progression are urgently needed. While the use of ovarian cancer cell lines remains a ...

Enrichment for Chemoresistant Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells from Human Cell Lines

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are defined as a subset of slow cycling and undifferentiated cells that divide asymmetrically to generate highly proliferative, invasive, and chemoresistant tumor cells. Therefore, CSCs are an attractive population of cells to target therapeutically. CSCs are predicted to contribute to a number of types of malignancies including those in the blood, brain, lung, gastrointestinal tract, prostate, and ovary. Isolating and enriching a tumor cell population for CSCs will enable researchers to study the properties, genetics, and therapeutic response of CSCs. We generated a protocol that reproducibly enriches for ovarian cancer CSCs from ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3 and OVCA429). Cell lines are treated with 20 &#181;M cisplatin for 3 days. Surviving cells are isolated and cultured in a serum-free stem cell media containing cytokines and growth factors. We demonstrate an enrichment of these purified CSCs by analyzing the isolated cells for known stem cell markers Oct4, Nanog, and Prom1 (CD133) and cell surface expression of CD177 and CD133. The CSCs exhibit increased chemoresistance. This method for isolation of CSCs is a useful tool for studying the role of CSCs in chemoresistance and tumor relapse.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are&#160;implicated in tumor relapse due to chemoresistance. We have optimized a protocol for selection and expansion of CSCs from ovarian cancer cell lines. By treating cells with the chemotherapeutic cisplatin and culturing&#160;in a stem cell promoting media we enrich for non-adherent CSC cultures.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are defined as a subset of slow cycling and undifferentiated cells that divide asymmetrically to generate highly proliferative, ...

In vitro Enrichment of Ovarian Cancer Tumor-initiating Cells

Evidence suggests that small subpopulations of tumor cells maintain a unique self-renewing and differentiation capacity and may be responsible for tumor initiation and/or relapse. Clarifying the mechanisms by which these tumor-initiating cells (TICs) support tumor formation and progression could lead to the development of clinically favorable therapies. Ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous and highly recurrent disease. Recent studies suggest TICs may play an important role in disease biology. We have identified culture conditions that enrich for TICs from ovarian cancer cell lines. Growing either adherent cells or non-adherent &#8216;floater&#8217; cells in a low attachment plate with serum free media in the presence of growth factors supports the propagation of ovarian cancer TICs with stem cell markers (CD133 and ALDH activity) and increased tumorigenicity without the need to physically separate the TICs from other cell types within the culture. Although the presence of floater cells is not common for all cell lines, this population of cells with innate low adherence may have high tumorigenic potential.Compared to adherent cells grown in the presence of serum, TICs readily form spheres, are significantly more tumorigenic in mice, and express putative stem cell markers. The conditions are easy to establish in a timely manner and can be used to study signaling pathways important for maintaining stem characteristics, and to identify drugs or combinations of drugs targeting TICs. The culture conditions described herein are applicable for a variety of ovarian cancer cells of epithelial origin and will be critical in providing new information about the role of TICs in tumor initiation, progression, and relapse.

In vitro Enrichment of Ovarian Cancer Tumor-initiating Cells

Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) may represent a viable therapeutic target for the treatment of ovarian cancer, a highly recurrent and fatal disease. We present a protocol for culture conditions that enrich for this highly tumorigenic population of cells.

Evidence suggests that small subpopulations of tumor cells maintain a unique self-renewing and differentiation capacity and may be responsible for tumor ...

Three-Dimensional (3D) Tumor Spheroid Invasion Assay

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.

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 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 ...