The University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Metabolic Bone Disease performed the histologic processing and sectioning of surrogates. Southern Research (Birmingham, AL) provided support for the manufacture of the bioreactor system. Funding was provided by the United States Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (BC121367).

1. Cell Culture
<ol>
	<li>Thaw BM component overnight at 4 &#176;C, on ice.</li>
	<li>Warm medium to 37 &#176;C. To support growth of both 231 cells and CAF, use Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) plus 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). 
	Note: The media used will depend upon the cell type and the experimental goals.</li>
	<li>Remove medium from the culture dish (10 cm) of near confluent 231 cells and add 1.5 ml Trypsin/EDTA. Incubate for 1 to 3 min at 37 &#176;C, monitoring for cell detachment. Once ...

<ol>
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The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Herein, a method of 3D culture has been described that incorporates components of the tissue microenvironment, including the extracellular matrix (ECM) and human stromal fibroblasts, in a volume that more closely models human breast cancer to allow for the development of a recapitulative 3D morphology. The 3D culture method described is more representative of human disease than traditional 2D cell culture in that multiple cell types are incorporated into a 3D volume of ECM. It has been noted that these parameters (i....

Three dimensional (3D) culture models that more accurately mimic the tumor architecture and microenvironment in vivo are important for studies aimed to dissect the complex interactions between cells and their microenvironment and to test the efficacy of candidate therapies. Tumor dimensionality impacts oxygen and nutrient gradients, the uniformity of drug exposure, interstitial pressure/blood flow, and 3D architecture1-4. The presence of an appropriate stromal microenvironment contributes to tumor dimensionality and influences cell-ECM signaling and paracrine signaling between stromal cells and malignant epithelial cells. The effects of tumor dimensionality and the microenvironment on cellular function are well established, with both factors altering drug response1,3,5-8. Additionally, cellular growth kinetics, metabolic rates, and cell signaling differ between two dimensional (2D) culture and culture in 3D, with these factors affecting cellular response1,3,8-10.
In vitro, the tumor surrogate microenvironment can be modulated by including representative ECM constituents and stromal cell populations. Malignant epithelial cells are influenced by the ECM and cancer-associated stromal cells either in a synergistic/protective manner to promote tumor progression or in a suppressive manner to inhibit further tumor propagation5,6,10. In either context, the stroma can affect therapeutic response and drug delivery via paracrine signaling and/or by increasing interstitial pressure in the tumor resulting in decreased drug delivery1,6. Therefore, the addition of ECM and stromal cells into preclinical models will help recapitulate aspects of the tumor that cannot be modeled well in 2D culture.
Herein a method to establish breast cancer surrogates that incorporate a recapitulative microenvironment, including ECM constituents and stromal cells, in a 3D volume is described. In breast carcinoma, the stromal cell population is predominately comprised of cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) and the stromal ECM is largely composed of collagen type I with a smaller proportion of matrix components that are found in the basement membrane, including laminin and collagen type IV1,4,11-13. Therefore, these components of the breast carcinoma microenvironment (i.e., CAF, collagen I, and basement membrane) have been incorporated into the surrogates. This method can be used to generate solid, un-perfused 3D surrogates (Figure 1A) or can be adapted to include perfusion of medium through the surrogate via a bioreactor system (Figure 1B). Both approaches are described here. This method could also be modified to include other stromal elements, such as tumor-associated macrophages, or to model other solid tumors by adjusting the cellular and ECM components, as appropriate.
For the breast carcinoma surrogate described here, we have utilized the MDA-MB-231 (231) breast cancer cell line, CAF previously isolated from human breast carcinoma14, and an ECM composed of 90% collagen I (6 mg/ml) and 10% growth factor reduced basement membrane material (BM). The surrogate is either grown in an 8-well chamber slide (solid surrogate) or a bioreactor system is utilized to provide continuous nutrient perfusion (perfused surrogate). Any perfusion bioreactor system that can accommodate a volume of ECM containing cells can be used15. As an example, we describe the preparation of the tissue surrogates in our bioreactor system. This system was developed in-house and is not commercially available. Because our focus here is on the preparation and analysis of the 3D tissue surrogates, we have not gone into extensive detail regarding the specifics of manufacture and assembly of our bioreactor system. However, a detailed description of this system and its development has been published16. In this bioreactor system, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) flow channel is used to house the surrogate, which is supported by a PDMS foam (formed using methods similar to those described by Calcagnile et al.17). This volume is penetrated by 4 microchannels (each 400 &#181;m in diameter) which are continuously perfused by medium via a microphysiologic pump to supply oxygen and nutrients to the surrogate.
Appropriate analysis of the surrogates is crucial to gain pertinent information regarding cellular function in response to treatment or other manipulations. Surrogates can be analyzed by various methods including direct imaging of intact surrogates using confocal microscopy or other means of non-invasive imaging, indirect cellular analysis by assaying the conditioned media, or perfusate, for secreted products, or analysis on histologic sections after fixation and processing to paraffin. One such parameter that can be evaluated on histologic sections is cell density. We present one approach to measure cell density (i.e., the number of nucleated cells per section area) using semi-automated image processing techniques applied to photomicrographs of surrogate histologic sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&#38;E). The cell density can be used as an indicator of the relative change in cell number over time or that results from varying growth conditions and treatments.
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/54004/54004fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1. 3D volume and bioreactor system. A) Schematic of the process to generate solid 3D surrogates. Top: cartoon of solid 3D volume containing ECM (pink), epithelial carcinoma cells (yellow), and CAF (orange); Bottom: top view of 8-well chamber slide containing surrogates. B) Schematic of the process to generate perfused 3D surrogates. Top: cartoon of 3D volume with channels to allow for medium perfusion and containing ECM (pink), epithelial carcinoma cells (yellow), and CAF (orange); Middle: image of PDMS flow channel containing PDMS foam (black arrow) to be injected with cell+ECM and penetrated by polymer-coated stainless steel wires (pink arrow) measuring 400 &#181;m in diameter; Bottom: image of the PDMS flow channel containing a surrogate and connected to the bioreactor system to allow for continuous medium perfusion (peristaltic pump and media reservoir not shown). C) Images of processing steps for both solid and perfused surrogates after culture. Left: image of the cryomold containing specimen processing gel and surrogate; Middle: image of a paraffin block containing a fixed and processed surrogate; Right: image of a glass slide with a H&#38;E-stained histologic section of a surrogate. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/54004/54004fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="465">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="94">
			<td height="94" style="height:94px;width:131px;">Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagel Medium 1x (DMEM)</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Corning CellGro</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">10-014-CV</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="48">
			<td height="48" style="height:48px;width:131px;">Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Atlanta Biologicals</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">S11150</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:131px;">0.25% Trypsin + 2.21 mM EDTA 1x</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">25-053-CI</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:131px;">Tissue Culture plates, 100mm</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">CellTreat Scientific Products</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">229620</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:131px;">Tissue Culture plates, 35mm</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">CellTreat Scientific Products</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">229638</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">For PDMS foam formation&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="35">
			<td height="35" style="height:35px;width:131px;">9&#34; Glass pipette</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Fisher&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">13-678-20D</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="68">
			<td height="68" style="height:68px;width:131px;">10 ml pipette</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">CellTreat Scientific Products</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">229210B</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="46">
			<td height="46" style="height:46px;width:131px;">1000 &#181;l piptette tips</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">FisherBrand</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">02-717-166</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sterile Filtered</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="46">
			<td height="46" style="height:46px;width:131px;">200 &#181;l pipette tips</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">FisherBrand</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">02-717-141</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sterile Filtered</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:131px;">10 &#181;l pipette tips</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">FisherBrand</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">02-717-158</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sterile Filtered</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="64">
			<td height="64" style="height:64px;width:131px;">15 ml conical tubes</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">CellTreat Scientific Products</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">229410</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:131px;">50 ml conical tubes</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">CellTreat Scientific Products</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">229422</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="67">
			<td height="67" style="height:67px;width:131px;">1.5 ml microcentrifuge tubes</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">FisherBrand</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">05-408-129</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:131px;">Trypan blue</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Corning Cellgro</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">25-900-CI</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="125">
			<td height="125" style="height:125px;width:131px;">Sylgard 184</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">24236-10</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">PDMS elastomer and curing agent. Used for our in-house bioreactor.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="83">
			<td height="83" style="height:83px;width:131px;">PDMS Foam</td>
			<td style="width:107px;"></td>
			<td style="width:107px;"></td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Made in-house for use in our in-house bioreactor.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="86">
			<td height="86" style="height:86px;width:131px;">High Concentration Bovine Collagen Type I</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Advanced Biomatrix</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">5133-A</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">FibriCol ~10 mg/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="105">
			<td height="105" style="height:105px;width:131px;">Growth Factor Reduced Matrigel (Basement Membrane)</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">354230</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Basement membrane material</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:131px;">Sodium Bicarbonate</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">S8761</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;width:131px;">Molecular Biology Grade Water</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">BP2819-1</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:131px;">DMEM 10x&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">D2429</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="67">
			<td height="67" style="height:67px;width:131px;">Nunc Lab-Tek Chamber Slide System&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">177402</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">8-well</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="67">
			<td height="67" style="height:67px;width:131px;">Bioreactor</td>
			<td style="width:107px;"></td>
			<td style="width:107px;"></td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Made in-house.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="185">
			<td height="185" style="height:185px;width:131px;">Spring-Back 304 Stainless Steel&#8212;Coated with PTFE polymer</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">1749T19</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Stainless steel wires to generate microchannels in our in-house&#160; bioreactor system. 0.016&#34; Diameter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="154">
			<td height="154" style="height:154px;width:131px;">BioPharm Plus platinum-cured silicone pump tubing, L/S 14</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Masterflex&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">EW-96440-14</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">For use in our in-house bioreactor system. Tubing ID: 1.6 mm, Hose barb size: 1/16 in.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="158">
			<td height="158" style="height:158px;width:131px;">2-Stop Tubing Sets, non-flared PVC, 1.52 mm ID</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Cole-Parmer&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">EW-74906-36</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">For use in our in-house bioreactor system (with microperistalitic pump).&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="158">
			<td height="158" style="height:158px;width:131px;">Six Channel precision micro peristaltic pump</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Cole-Parmer</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">EW-74906-04</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">For use with our in-house bioreactor system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="166">
			<td height="166" style="height:166px;width:131px;">Labtainer BPC Bag &#8211; 2 Ports, Luer Lock 
			50mL</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">&#8203;SH3065711</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Example Media Reservoir&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="65">
			<td height="65" style="height:65px;width:131px;">Tuberculin Syringes</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">BD Medical</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">309625</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">26 gauge 3/8 in. needle; Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="49">
			<td height="49" style="height:49px;width:131px;">Dissecting Tissue Forceps</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">FisherBrand</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">13-812-36</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">5.5 inch</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="180">
			<td height="180" style="height:180px;width:131px;">Mini Tube Rotator</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Boekel Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">260750</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Equipment option for surrogate rotation. Used with carousel for 50 ml tubes (model number 260753)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="49">
			<td height="49" style="height:49px;width:131px;">50 ml tube carousel</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Boekel Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">260753</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Used with mini tube rotator</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="88">
			<td height="88" style="height:88px;width:131px;">Bambino&#160; Hybridization Oven</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Boekel Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">230301</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Equipment option for surrogate rotation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="87">
			<td height="87" style="height:87px;width:131px;">HistoGel Specimen Processing Gel</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">HG-4000-012</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Specimen Processing Gel described in Step 5.2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="51">
			<td height="51" style="height:51px;width:131px;">Cryomold</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Andwin Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">4566</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">15 mm x 15 mm x 5 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="192">
			<td height="192" style="height:192px;width:131px;">Tissue Marking Dye</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Cancer Diagnostics, inc.&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">03000P</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Can be used to mark surrogates,&#160; allowing multiple samples to be included in one tissue cassette&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="51">
			<td height="51" style="height:51px;width:131px;">Hinged tissue cassettes&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">FisherBrand</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">22-272-416</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="36">
			<td height="36" style="height:36px;width:131px;">Formalin</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">23-245-685</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="50">
			<td height="50" style="height:50px;width:131px;">GoldSeal Plain Glass Slides</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">3048-002</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:131px;">Xylene</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">X3P-1GAL</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="71">
			<td height="71" style="height:71px;width:131px;">Ethanol, 200 proof (100%), USP</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Decon Laboratories, Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">2805M</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="87">
			<td height="87" style="height:87px;width:131px;">Hematoxylin</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Thermo Scientific Richard-Allan Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">7211</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="87">
			<td height="87" style="height:87px;width:131px;">Clarifier</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Thermo Scientific Richard-Allan Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">7401</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="87">
			<td height="87" style="height:87px;width:131px;">Bluing Solution</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Thermo Scientific Richard-Allan Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">7301</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="87">
			<td height="87" style="height:87px;width:131px;">Eosin Y</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Thermo Scientific Richard-Allan Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">7111</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="83">
			<td height="83" style="height:83px;width:131px;">Cytoseal XYL mounting media</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Thermo Scientific Richard-Allan Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">83124</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="44">
			<td height="44" style="height:44px;width:131px;">Coverslips</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:107px;">12-548-5G</td>
			<td style="width:121px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

preparation and analysis of in vitro three dimensional breast carcinoma surrogates

Three dimensional (3D) culture is a more physiologically relevant method to model cell behavior in vitro than two dimensional culture. Carcinomas, including breast carcinomas, are complex 3D tissues composed of cancer epithelial cells and stromal components, including fibroblasts and extracellular matrix (ECM). Yet most in vitro models of breast carcinoma consist only of cancer epithelial cells, omitting the stroma and, therefore, the 3D architecture of a tumor in vivo. Appropriate 3D modeling of carcinoma is important for accurate understanding of tumor biology, behavior, and response to therapy. However, the duration of culture and volume of 3D models is limited by the availability of oxygen and nutrients within the culture. Herein, we demonstrate a method in which breast carcinoma epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts are incorporated into ECM to generate a 3D breast cancer surrogate that includes stroma and can be cultured as a solid 3D structure or by using a perfusion bioreactor system to deliver oxygen and nutrients. Following setup and an initial growth period, surrogates can be used for preclinical drug testing. Alternatively, the cellular and matrix components of the surrogate can be modified to address a variety of biological questions. After culture, surrogates are fixed and processed to paraffin, in a manner similar to the handling of clinical breast carcinoma specimens, for evaluation of parameters of interest. The evaluation of one such parameter, the density of cells present, is explained, where ImageJ and CellProfiler image analysis software systems are applied to photomicrographs of histologic sections of surrogates to quantify the number of nucleated cells per area. This can be used as an indicator of the change in cell number over time or the change in cell number resulting from varying growth conditions and treatments.

Both solid and perfused 3D breast cancer surrogates were prepared as described above and grown for 7 days. Subsequently, surrogates were fixed, processed to paraffin, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, as described above. The number of nucleated cells per area (both 231 cells and CAF) of each surrogate was measured. As can be seen in Figure 12, representative photomicrographs of the H&#38;E-stained sections demonstrate a higher concentration of cells prese...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Preparation and Analysis of In Vitro Three Dimensional Breast Carcinoma Surrogates at JoVE.com

Preparation and Analysis of In Vitro Three Dimensional Breast Carcinoma Surrogates

We demonstrate a method to generate 3D breast cancer surrogates, which can be cultured using a perfusion bioreactor system to deliver oxygen and nutrients. Following growth, surrogates are fixed and processed to paraffin for evaluation of parameters of interest. The evaluation of one such parameter, cell density, is explained.

Preparation and Analysis of In Vitro Three Dimensional Breast Carcinoma Surrogates

Three dimensional (3D) culture is a more physiologically relevant method to model cell behavior in vitro than two dimensional culture. Carcinomas, ...

The overall goal of this set of procedures is to generate three-dimensional cell cultures to function as in vitro breast cancer surrogates, and to present a method for measuring cell growth in histologic sections of the surrogates. Three-dimensional cell culture is a more physiologically relevant method of modelling cell behavior in vitro than is two-dimensional cell culture. By altering cellular composition in experimental conditions, this set of procedures can be adapted to address a variety of biological questions, and to assess the efficacy of candidate therapeutics.To incorporate the cells into the ECM, on ice, add the cells and the first four related components listed in table one in the accompanying manuscript, into a two millimeter microcentrifuge tube. Next, gently mix them by pipetting, and avoid forming any bubbles. Monitor the pH level using the phenol red in the 10XD MEM to make sure that the mixture shows an orange-pink color, indicating a pH of seven.If the mixture appears yellow and the pH is too low, slowly add 7.5 percent sodium bicarbonate one drop at a time until the appropriate color is reached. Remember to keep the mixture on ice, and work quickly to prevent premature ECM polymerization. For solid 3D cultures keep the chamber slide on ice to prevent premature ECM polymerization.Slowly pipette 100 micro-liters of the cell ECM mixture into each well of the eight well chamber slide, and pipette the cell ECM mixture around the edges of the well to help better distribute the mixture. Next, incubate the surrogates at 37 degrees Celsius, five percent CO2, for 45 minutes to allow ECM polymerization. After forty-five minutes add 100 micro-liters of the culture media to each well, and incubate at 37 degrees Celsius and five percent CO2 for the duration of the experiment.Change the culture medium every two days. A limitation of 3D culture is that the diffusion of oxygen and nutrients into the volume may inadequate to support cell viability. The addition of a bio-reactor system may help to overcome this limitation and enhance growth.To profuse 3D cultures in a bio-reactor system, sterily prepare and assemble the portion of the bio-reactor system that houses the surrogates. In a cell culture-hood, using a syringe with a 26 gauge needle, inject the cell ECM mixture into the area of the perfusion bio-reactor designed to contain cells, and quickly proceed to the next step. To ensure more even distribution of cells within the surrogates, place the bio-reactor component housing the surrogates into a 50 milliliter conical tube.Continuously rotate the surrogates at 18 rpm while incubating at 37 degrees Celsius in an in situ hybridization oven or an incubator for 45 minutes to allow ECM polymerization. Following polymerization and the addition of medium connect the bio-reactor assembly to the pump. Start medium perfusion in an incubator at 37 degrees Celsius, five percent CO2.Continue medium perfusion for the duration of the experiment, and change the culture medium as required for the specific experimental design. At the end of the experiment encase the surrogates in specimen processing gel to keep the surrogates intact during processing, and facilitate histologic sectioning. To do so, melt the specimen processing gel in a 60 degree Celsius water bath until ready to use.Then, pipette approximately 300 micro-liters of specimen processing gel into the bottom of a labeled cryomold. Using a scalpel blade and forceps, carefully remove a surrogate from the bio-reactor or from the well of an eight-well chamber slide, and place it into the cryomolds containing specimen processing gel. Pipette approximately 300 micro-liters of specimen processing gel to cover the surrogate in the cryomold.Then, incubate it at four degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. Once the specimen processing gel has solidified, remove the specimen processing gel containing the surrogate from the cryomold and place it into a tissue cassette. If more than one surrogate is to be put into the same tissue cassette, tissue marking dyes can be used to distinguish samples following fixation and processing.Subsequently, place the tissue cassette containing the surrogate into ten percent neutral buffered formula for ten to twelve hours at room temperature to allow complete fixation. Following fixation, transfer the tissue cassette containing the surrogate to 70 percent ethanol. The fixed surrogate is now ready for processing to paraffin and subsequent histologic sectioning.To measure the cell density and photo-microscopic images of H and E stained sections, open an image file of the surrogate. Using the Polygon tool in ImageJ and the edges of the ECM as a guide, outline the area of the surrogate by dragging the mouse and clicking to make anchor points. Once outlined, select Measure under the Analyze tab.Next, upload the image files used to measure the surrogate area into Cell Profiler by dragging the image files to the file list. Then, assign a name to each image imported in the Names and Types Import module and Select the image type. After the analysis pipeline is generated, start Test Mode and click Run in Cell Profiler.And evaluate filtered objects to ensure that the majority of the nuclei in the test image are appropriately identified, and the optimal parameters are chosen to identify the cells. The nuclei included will be circled in green. Then, save the project, exit test mode, and click Analyze Images.Shown here is a representative image of the H and E stained section from a perfused surrogate grown for seven days. And this is a representative image of the H and E stained section from a solid surrogate grown for seven days with medium changed every two days. The cellularity is much lower in the solid surrogates.This graph shows the comparison of the mean number of nucleated cells per area following seven days of growth. A perfused and solid surrogate. These numerical data support the cellularity in the photo micro-graphs of the H and E stained sections.And this graph shows the comparison of Ki-67 labeling index, which is the meaure of cell proliferation following seven days growth of perfused and solid surrogates. These data again support greater growth in perfused surrogates. Following this procedure, other methods such as in situ hybridization and amino histochemistry can be performed on histologic sections of the surrogates to answer questions like RNA and protein expression.After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to prepare and process three-dimensional in vitro tissue surrogates, and perform surrogate analysis on H and E stained histologic sections.

preparation-analysis-vitro-three-dimensional-breast-carcinoma

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

10.5K Views.  University of Alabama at Birmingham. The overall goal of this set of procedures is to generate three-dimensional cell cultures to function as in vitro breast cancer surrogates, and to present a method for measuring cell growth in histologic sections of the surrogates. Three-dimensional cell culture is a more physiologically relevant method of modelling cell behavior in vitro than is two-dimensional cell culture. By altering cellular composition in experimental conditions, this set of procedures can be adapted to address a variet...