Name: real-time monitoring of human glioma cell migration on dorsal root ganglion axon-oligodendrocyte co-cultures
Uploaded: 2019-12-13T12:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Real-Time Monitoring of Human Glioma Cell Migration on Dorsal Root Ganglion Axon-Oligodendrocyte Co-Cultures at JoVE.com

This work was supported by internal funds of the Department of Neurosurgery, Brown University to N.T.

The protocols for collection, isolation, and propagation of patient-derived human glioma cells were approved by the IRB committee of Rhode Island Hospital. All animals were maintained according to the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. All animal use protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Rhode Island Hospital.
1. Media and buffer preparations
<ol>
	<li>Prepare 50 mL of Neurosphere Media: 1x Neuronal basal medium w/o vitamin A, 1x ser...

<ol>
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Migration studies for hGCs may be performed by using Boyden chamber systems or scratch assays. However, while these experiments fail to give any information regarding the interactions of tumor cells with other surrounding tissues, the present system can recapitulate GC interactions with myelinated and non-myelinated fibers. Furthermore, to study tumor formation and end-point migration, organotypic slice cultures of the rodent brain or in vivo implantation of glioma cells into the rodent brain or flank have previously bee...

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and lethal tumors of the human brain. The current standard of care includes surgical resection of the tumor followed by radiation1 plus concomitant and adjuvant administration of temozolomide2. Even with this multi-therapeutic approach, tumor recurrence is inevitable3. This is partly due to the extensive migratory nature of the tumor cells, which invade the brain parenchyma creating multiple finger-like projections within the brain4 that make complete resection unlikely.
In recent years, it has become evident that the aggressiveness of glioblastoma is due, in part, to the presence of a population of cancer stem cells within the tumor mass5,6, which exhibit high migratory potential7,8, resistance to chemotherapy and radiation9,10 and the ability to form secondary tumors11. GSCs are capable of recapitulating original polyclonal tumors when xenografted to nude mice5.
Despite the wealth of knowledge regarding the genetic background of glioblastomas, studies on glioma cell (GC) migration are currently hindered by a lack of efficient in vitro or in vivo migration models. Notably, while glioma cell-axonal interactions modulated by cellular and environmental factors are a core component of glioma invasion, to our knowledge there is currently no experimental system with the ability to model these interactions12,13,14. To address this deficiency, we developed an ex vivo culture system of primary hGCs co-cultured with purified DRG axon-oligodendrocytes that results in elevated expression of differentiated tumor markers as well as extensive migration and interaction of hGCs with myelinated and non-myelinated fibers. This ex vivo platform, due to its compartmentalized layout, is suitable for testing the effects of novel therapeutics on hGC migration patterns.,

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>100 mm Suspension Culture Dish</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430591</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2.5S NGF</td>
			<td>ENVIGO</td>
			<td>B.5025</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>60 mm Suspension Culture Dish</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430589</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ACK Lysing Buffer</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>A1049201</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ammonium Hydroxide Solution</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A669-500</td>
			<td>Concentrated</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Animal-Free Recombinant Human EGF</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>AF-100-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Animal-Free Recombinant Human FGF-basic (154 a.a.)</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>AF-100-18B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-A2B5 MicroBeads, human, mouse, rat</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-093-392</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antibiotic-Antimycotic (100X)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>15240062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AutoMACS Rinsing Solution (PBS, pH 7.2)</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-091-222</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>B27 Supplement</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>17504044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>B27 Supplement, minus vitamin A</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>12587001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bacteriological Plate</td>
			<td>BD Falcon</td>
			<td>351029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>B4639</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BSA</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A9418</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Campenot Chamber</td>
			<td>Tyler Research</td>
			<td>CAMP-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell Culture Dish</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430165</td>
			<td>35mm X 10mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell Strainer</td>
			<td>BD Falcon</td>
			<td>352350</td>
			<td>70 uM, Nylon</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell Strainer</td>
			<td>BD Falcon</td>
			<td>352340</td>
			<td>30 uM, Nylon</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase/Dispase</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
			<td>11097113001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cultrex Rat Collagen I</td>
			<td>Trevigen</td>
			<td>3440-100-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>D-Glucose</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>G5146</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>10313021</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DNase I</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>D7291</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dow Corning High-Vacuum Grease</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>14-635-5D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont #5 Forceps</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>RS-5045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>E16 Timed Pregnant Sprague Dawley Rat</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EBSS</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>E7510</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EGTA</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>E3889</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FBS</td>
			<td>Hyclone</td>
			<td>SH30070.02</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FUDR</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>F0503</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GlutaMAX Supplement</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>35050061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ham&#39;s F-12 Nutrient Mix</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>11765054</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HBSS</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>14175095</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hemostatic Forceps</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>RS-7035</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heparin Sodium Salt, 0.2% in PBS</td>
			<td>Stem Cell Technologies</td>
			<td>07980</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hypodermic Needle, 18G</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>511097</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium G</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>41400045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Cysteine</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C7477</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glutamine</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>25030081</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leibovitz&#39;s L-15 Medium</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>11415064</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MACS BSA Stock Solution</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-091-376</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MACS MultiStand</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-042-303</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MEM</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>1190081</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mg2SO4</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M2643</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MiniMACS Separator</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-042-102</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MS Columns plus tubes</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-041-301</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NAC</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A8199</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaHCO3</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S5761</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neurobasal Medium</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>21103049</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neurobasal-A Medium</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>10888022</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ordinary forceps</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>P2 Sprague Dawley Rat Pups</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Papain</td>
			<td>Worthington</td>
			<td>LS003126</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>15140148</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pin Rake</td>
			<td>Tyler Research</td>
			<td>CAMP-PR</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Progesterone</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P8783</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>StemPro Accutase Cell Dissociation Reagent</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>A1110501</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syrine Grease Applicator</td>
			<td>Tyler Research</td>
			<td>CAMP-GLSS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Transferrin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T2036</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Uridine</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>U3003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

real-time monitoring of human glioma cell migration on dorsal root ganglion axon-oligodendrocyte co-cultures

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive human cancers due to extensive cellular heterogeneity and the migration properties of hGCs. In order to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying glioma cell migration, an ability to study the interaction between hGCs and axons within the tumor microenvironment is essential. In order to model this cellular interaction, we developed a mixed culture system consisting of hGCs and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) axon-oligodendrocyte co-cultures. DRG cultures were selected because they can be isolated efficiently and can form the long, extensive projections which are ideal for migration studies of this nature. Purified rat oligodendrocytes were then added on purified rat DRG axons and induced to myelinate. After confirming the formation of compact myelin, hGCs were finally added to the co-culture and their interactions with DRG axons and oligodendrocytes was monitored in real-time using time-lapse microscopy. Under these conditions, hGCs form tumor-like aggregate structures that express GFAP and Ki67, migrate along both myelinated and non-myelinated axonal tracks and interact with these axons through the formation of pseudopodia. Our ex vivo co-culture system can be used to identify novel cellular and molecular mechanisms of hGC migration and could potentially be used for in vitro drug efficacy testing.

In order to study the interaction of hGCs with axons, we generated purified DRG axons as previously described15,16,17,18. These purified DRG axons were then seeded with hGCs, which formed GFAP+/Ki67+ tumor-like structures integrated within the axonal network, while individual hGCs migrated either in association or between the axons (Figure 2). To determine how hGCs interact wit...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Real-Time Monitoring of Human Glioma Cell Migration on Dorsal Root Ganglion Axon-Oligodendrocyte Co-Cultures at JoVE.com

Real-Time Monitoring of Human Glioma Cell Migration on Dorsal Root Ganglion Axon-Oligodendrocyte Co-Cultures

Here we present an ex-vivo mixed monolayer culture system for the study of human glioma cell (hGC) migration in real-time. This model provides the ability to observe interactions between hGCs and both myelinated and non-myelinated axons within a compartmentalized chamber.

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive human cancers due to extensive cellular heterogeneity and the migration properties of hGCs. In order to better ...

This ex vivo co-culture system can be used to identify novel cellular and molecular mechanisms of human glioma cell migration and could potentially be used for in vitro drug efficacy testing. The main advantage of this technique is the ability to study interactions between human glioblastoma cells and axons in real time. Demonstrating the procedure will be John Zepecki, a graduate student from my lab.To assemble compartmented culture dishes, dilute collagen stock solution to 500 micrograms per milliliter in sterile distilled water and mix thoroughly. With a sterile transfer pipette, fill a 35 millimeter culture dish with two milliliters of the diluted collagen solution. Then slightly tilt the dish and remove the solution leaving a thin film of collagen behind.Dispense the solution into the next 35 millimeter dish. Repeat this process, adding more collagen solution as needed until all dishes have been coated. To polymerize the collagen, in a laminar flow hood, wet gauze pads with three milliliters of concentrated ammonium hydroxide and cover the trays for 15 minutes.Remove gauze pads and allow the 35 millimeter dishes to dry. Next, use a metal file to file off the point of an 18 gauge needle to make a blunt tip. Soak the needle in 70%ethanol to sterilize.Apply silicone grease to the bottom of the compartmented chamber. Ensure the grease is placed neatly and overlaps at all corners. This technique can be very challenging so we suggest that you take extra time to practice applying the correct amount of grease before setting up the compartmented chambers in order to ensure excellent growth.It is also very important to work slowly. Set up more chambers than you think you will need so you have extras should something go wrong. Remove the lid from a 35 millimeter dish, invert the dish and place the scratches over the chamber.Tap down on the bottom of the dish gently with a pair of forceps. When applying the grease chambers to the dish, do not tap too hard. Otherwise, the axons will not be able to grow underneath into the adjacent chamber.Use the hemostatic forceps to gently flip the dish over. Release the forceps. Place a mound of grease at the base of the center compartment.Fill each chamber with supplemented neuronal basal medium. Check for leaks and seal leaks with silicone grease as needed. Continue assembling all culture dishes and store overnight at 37 degrees Celsius and 5%carbon dioxide.The compartmented chamber allows the use of different pharmacological reagents as well as the ability to compare and contrast results between two wells on the same plate. To seed the prepared cultures containing a GBM neurosphere, first replace the medium with supplemented NBF containing 10%FBS in each distal compartmented chamber. Next, with a P20 pipette set to 10 microliters, draw one GBM neurosphere from the culture dish.Place the tip of the pipette in the distal chamber closest to the center chamber without touching the axon and expel the GBM neurosphere slowly so that it gently falls onto the axons. Leave the culture in the biosafety cabinet for one hour at room temperature to allow the GBM neurosphere to attach. This method could be used to test pharmacological compounds for the treatment of brain tumors.This method could be also applied to other diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system such as demyelinating neuropathies and multiple sclerosis. In this protocol, purified DRG axons were seeded with HCGs which formed double positive GFAP and KI67 tumor-like structures integrated within the axonal network indicated by the red tumor markers GFAP while individual HGCs expressing the green fluorescent protein migrated either in association or between the axons. Addition of HGCs on the myelinated DRG oligodendrocyte co-cultures showed that HGCs migrate in association with the red stained myelinated axons and away from the tumor mass through the formation of pseudopodia.Once this technique was perfected, we were able to utilize it to study migration of human GBM stem cells in real time. We were also able to study effects on cell migration after addition of novel therapeutic small molecule inhibitors. The GBM sphere invading a myelinated oligodendrocyte DRG axon culture is shown here.The protocol described here could serve as a foundation for other biomimetic three-dimensional ex vivo systems designed to assess the effects of novel drug treatments. One should always use caution when handling human-derived cells. Appropriate PPE should be worn and bloodborne pathogen training should be completed so one understands the risks of working with patient-derived tissues.Ammonium hydroxide should be handled with care and you should wear gloves, a lab coat, and work in a hood to prevent exposure to this chemical.

real-time-monitoring-human-glioma-cell-migration-on-dorsal-root

Research

JoVE Journal

Cancer Research

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

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

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

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

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

Preparation and Metabolic Assay of 3-dimensional Spheroid Co-cultures of Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Fibroblasts

Many cancer types, including pancreatic cancer, have a dense fibrotic stroma that plays an important role in tumor progression and invasion. Activated cancer associated fibroblasts are a key component of the tumor stroma that interact with cancer cells and support their growth and survival. Models that recapitulate the interaction of cancer cells and activated fibroblasts are important tools for studying the stromal biology and for development of antitumor agents. Here, a method is described for the rapid generation of robust 3-dimensional (3D) spheroid co-culture of pancreatic cancer cells and activated pancreatic fibroblasts that can be used for subsequent biological studies. Additionally, described is the use of 3D spheroids in carrying out functional metabolic assays to probe cellular bioenergetics pathways using an extracellular flux analyzer paired with a spheroid microplate. Pancreatic cancer cells (Patu8902) and activated pancreatic fibroblast cells (PS1) were co-cultured and magnetized using a biocompatible nanoparticle assembly. Magnetized cells were rapidly bioprinted using magnetic drives in a 96 well format, in growth media to generate spheroids with a diameter ranging between 400-600 &#181;m within 5-7 days of culture. Functional metabolic assays using Patu8902-PS1 spheroids were then carried out using the extracellular flux technology to probe cellular energetic pathways. The method herein is simple, allows consistent generation of cancer cell-fibroblast spheroid co-cultures and can be potentially adapted to other cancer cell types upon optimization of the current described methodology.

Here, a method is described for the preparation of 3-dimensional (3D) spheroid co-culture of pancreatic cancer cells and fibroblasts, followed by measurement of metabolic functions using an extracellular flux analyzer.

Many cancer types, including pancreatic cancer, have a dense fibrotic stroma that plays an important role in tumor progression and invasion. Activated ...

Using the Dot Assay to Analyze Migration of Cell Sheets

Although complex organisms appear static, their tissues are under a continuous turnover. As cells age, die, and are replaced by new cells, cells move within tissues in a tightly orchestrated manner. During tumor development, this equilibrium is disturbed, and tumor cells leave the epithelium of origin to invade the local microenvironment, to travel to distant sites, and to ultimately form metastatic tumors at distant sites. The dot assay is a simple, two-dimensional unconstrained migration assay, to assess the net movement of cell sheets into a cell-free area, and to analyze parameters of cell migration using time-lapse imaging. Here, the dot assay is demonstrated using a human invasive, lung colony forming breast cancer cell line, MCF10CA1a, to analyze the cells' migratory response to epidermal growth factor (EGF), which is known to increase malignant potential of breast cancer cells and to alter the migratory phenotype of cells.

Cell migration is essential for development, tissue maintenance and repair, and tumorigenesis, and is regulated by growth factors, chemokines, and cytokines. This protocol describes the dot assay, a two-dimensional, unconstrained migration assay to assess the migratory phenotype of attached, cohesive cell sheets in response to microenvironmental cues.

Although complex organisms appear static, their tissues are under a continuous turnover. As cells age, die, and are replaced by new cells, cells move ...

Serum and Plasma Copy Number Detection Using Real-time PCR

Serum and plasma cell free DNA (cfDNA) has been shown as an informative, non-invasive source of biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, and prediction of treatment resistance. Starting from the hypothesis that androgen receptor (AR) gene copy number (CN) gain is a frequent event in metastatic castration resistance prostate cancer (mCRPC), we propose to analyze this event in cfDNA as a potential predictive biomarker.
We evaluated AR CN in cfDNA using 2 different real-time PCR assays and 2 reference genes (RNaseP and AGO1). DNA amount of 60 ng was used for each assay combination. AR CN gain was confirmed using Digital PCR as a more accurate method. CN variation analysis has already been demonstrated to be informative for the prediction of treatment resistance in the setting of mCRPC, but it could be useful also for other purposes in different patient settings. CN analysis on cfDNA has several advantages: it is non-invasive, rapid and easy to perform, and it starts from a small volume of serum or plasma material.

This manuscript describes the copy number variation analysis performed in serum or plasma DNA using real-time PCR approach. This method is suitable for the prediction of drug resistance in castration resistant prostate cancer patients, but it could be informative also for other diseases.

Serum and plasma cell free DNA (cfDNA) has been shown as an informative, non-invasive source of biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, ...

Live-Cell Imaging Assays to Study Glioblastoma Brain Tumor Stem Cell Migration and Invasion

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor that is poorly controlled with the currently available treatment options. Key features of GBMs include rapid proliferation and pervasive invasion into the normal brain. Recurrence is thought to result from the presence of radio- and chemo-resistant brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs) that invade away from the initial cancerous mass and, thus, evade surgical resection. Hence, therapies that target BTSCs and their invasive abilities may improve the otherwise poor prognosis of this disease. Our group and others have successfully established and characterized BTSC cultures from GBM patient samples. These BTSC cultures demonstrate fundamental cancer stem cell properties such as clonogenic self-renewal, multi-lineage differentiation, and tumor initiation in immune-deficient mice. In order to improve on the current therapeutic approaches for GBM, a better understanding of the mechanisms of BTSC migration and invasion is necessary. In GBM, the study of migration and invasion is restricted, in part, due to the limitations of existing techniques which do not fully account for the in vitro growth characteristics of BTSCs grown as neurospheres. Here, we describe rapid and quantitative live-cell imaging assays to study both the migration and invasion properties of BTSCs. The first method described is the BTSC migration assay which measures the migration toward a chemoattractant gradient. The second method described is the BTSC invasion assay which images and quantifies a cellular invasion from neurospheres into a matrix. The assays described here are used for the quantification of BTSC migration and invasion over time and under different treatment conditions.

Here, we describe live-cell imaging techniques to quantitatively measure the migration and invasion of glioblastoma brain tumor stem cells over time and under multiple treatment conditions.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor that is poorly controlled with the currently available treatment options. Key features of GBMs include ...

Real Time Detection of In Vitro Tumor Cell Apoptosis Induced by CD8+ T Cells to Study Immune Suppressive Functions of Tumor-infiltrating Myeloid Cells

Potentiation of the tumor-killing ability of CD8+ T cells in tumors, along with their efficient tumor infiltration, is a key element of successful immunotherapies. Several studies have indicated that tumor infiltrating myeloid cells (e.g., myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs)) suppress cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment, and that targeting these regulatory myeloid cells can improve immunotherapies. Here, we present an in vitro assay system to evaluate immune suppressive effects of monocytic-MDSCs and TAMs on the tumor-killing ability of CD8+ T cells. To this end, we first cultured na&#239;ve splenic CD8+ T cells with anti-CD3/CD28 activating antibodies in the presence or absence of suppressor cells, and then co-cultured the pre-activated T cells with target cancer cells in the presence of a fluorogenic caspase-3 substrate. Fluorescence from the substrate in cancer cells was detected by real-time fluorescence microscopy as an indicator of T-cell induced tumor cell apoptosis. In this assay, we can successfully detect the increase of tumor cell apoptosis by CD8+ T cells and its suppression by pre-culture with TAMs or MDSCs. This functional assay is useful for investigating CD8+ T cell suppression mechanisms by regulatory myeloid cells and identifying druggable targets to overcome it via high throughput screening.

Real Time Detection of In Vitro Tumor Cell Apoptosis Induced by CD8+ T Cells to Study Immune Suppressive Functions of Tumor-infiltrating Myeloid Cells

We describe here a protocol to investigate cytotoxicity of pre-activated CD8+ T cells against cancer cells by detecting apoptotic cancer cells via real-time microscopy. This protocol can investigate mechanisms behind myeloid cell-induced T cell suppression and evaluate compounds aimed at replenishing T cells via blockade of immune suppressive myeloid cells.

Potentiation of the tumor-killing ability of CD8+ T cells in tumors, along with their efficient tumor infiltration, is a key element of successful ...

Evaluation of Biomarkers in Glioma by Immunohistochemistry on Paraffin-Embedded 3D Glioma Neurosphere Cultures

Analysis of protein expression in glioma is relevant for several aspects in the study of its pathology. Numerous proteins have been described as biomarkers with applications in diagnosis, prognosis, classification, state of tumor progression, and cell differentiation state. These analyses of biomarkers are also useful to characterize tumor neurospheres (NS) generated from glioma patients and glioma models. Tumor NS provide a valuable in vitro model to assess different features of the tumor from which they are derived and can more accurately mirror glioma biology. Here we describe a detailed method to analyze biomarkers in tumor NS using immunohistochemistry (IHC) on paraffin-embedded tumor NS.

Neurospheres grown as 3D cultures constitute a powerful tool to study glioma biology. Here we present a protocol to perform immunohistochemistry while maintaining the 3D structure of glioma neurospheres through paraffin embedding. This method enables the characterization of glioma neurosphere properties such as stemness and neural differentiation.

Analysis of protein expression in glioma is relevant for several aspects in the study of its pathology. Numerous proteins have been described as ...

Time-Lapse 2D Imaging of Phagocytic Activity in M1 Macrophage-4T1 Mouse Mammary Carcinoma Cells in Co-cultures

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have been identified as an important component for tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to cancer therapies. However, tumor-associated macrophages can be harmful to the tumor depending on the tumor microenvironment and can reversibly alter their phenotypic characteristics by either antagonizing the cytotoxic activity of immune cells or enhancing anti-tumor response. The molecular actions of macrophages and their interactions with tumor cells (e.g., phagocytosis) have not been extensively studied. Therefore, the interaction between immune cells (M1/M2-subtype TAM) and cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment is now a focus of cancer immunotherapy research. In the present study, a live cell coculture model of induced M1 macrophages and mouse mammary 4T1 carcinoma cells was developed to assess the phagocytic activity of macrophages using a time-lapse video feature using phase-contrast, fluorescent, and differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. The present method can observe and document multipoint live-cell imaging of phagocytosis. Phagocytosis of 4T1 cells by M1 macrophages can be observed using fluorescent microscopy before staining 4T1 cells with carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE). The current publication describes how to coculture macrophages and tumor cells in a single imaging dish, polarize M1 macrophages, and record multipoint events of macrophages engulfing 4T1 cells during 13 h of coculture.

Macrophage phagocytic activity against cancer cells, specifically 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma cells, was imaged in this study. The live cell coculture model was established and observed using a combination of fluorescent and differential interference contrast microscopy. This assessment was imaged using imaging software to develop multipoint time-lapse video.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have been identified as an important component for tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to cancer ...

Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion

Cancer arises due to uncontrolled proliferation of cells initiated by genetic instability, mutations, and environmental and other stress factors. These acquired abnormalities in complex, multilayered molecular signaling networks induce aberrant cell proliferation and survival, extracellular matrix degradation, and metastasis to distant organs. Approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths are estimated to be caused by the direct or indirect effects of metastatic dissemination. Therefore, it is important to establish a highly reliable, comprehensive system to characterize cancer cell behaviors upon genetic and environmental manipulations. Such a system can give a clear understanding of the molecular regulation of cancer metastasis and the opportunity for successful development of stratified, precise therapeutic strategies. Hence, accurate determination of cancer cell behaviors such as migration and invasion with gain or loss of function of gene(s) allows assessment of the aggressive nature of cancer cells. The real-time measurement system based on cell impedance enables researchers to continually acquire data during a whole experiment and instantly compare and quantify the results under various experimental conditions. Unlike conventional methods, this method does not require fixation, staining, and sample processing to analyze cells that migrate or invade. This method paper emphasizes detailed procedures for real-time determination of migration and invasion of glioblastoma cancer cells.

Cancer is a lethal disease due to its ability to metastasize to different organs. Determining the ability of cancer cells to migrate and invade under various treatment conditions is crucial to assessing therapeutic strategies. This protocol presents a method to assess the real-time metastatic abilities of a glioblastoma cancer cell line.&#160;

Cancer arises due to uncontrolled proliferation of cells initiated by genetic instability, mutations, and environmental and other stress factors. These ...

Measuring Real-time Drug Response in Organotypic Tumor Tissue Slices

Tumor tissues are composed of cancerous cells, infiltrated immune cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix. This complex milieu constitutes the tumor microenvironment (TME) and can modulate response to therapy in vivo or drug response ex vivo. Conventional cancer drug discovery screens are carried out on cells cultured in a monolayer, a system critically lacking the influence of TME. Thus, experimental systems that integrate sensitive and high-throughput assays with physiological TME will strengthen the preclinical drug discovery process. Here, we introduce ex vivo tumor tissue slice culture as a platform for medium-high-throughput drug screening. Organotypic tissue slice culture constitutes precisely-cut, thin tumor sections that are maintained with the support of a porous membrane in a liquid-air interface. In this protocol, we describe the preparation and maintenance of tissue slices prepared from mouse tumors and tumors from patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. To assess changes in tissue viability in response to drug treatment, we leveraged a biocompatible luminescence-based viability assay that enables real-time, rapid, and sensitive measurement of viable cells in the tissue. Using this platform, we evaluated dose-dependent responses of tissue slices to the multi-kinase inhibitor, staurosporine, and cytotoxic agent, doxorubicin. Further, we demonstrate the application of tissue slices for ex vivo pharmacology by screening 17 clinical and preclinical drugs on tissue slices prepared from a single PDX tumor. Our physiologically-relevant, highly-sensitive, and robust ex vivo screening platform will greatly strengthen preclinical oncology drug discovery and treatment decision making.&#160;

We introduce a protocol for measuring real-time drug response in organotypic tumor tissue slices. The experimental strategy outlined here provides a platform to carry out medium-high throughput drug screens on tissue slices derived from clinical or mouse tumors in ex vivo conditions.

Tumor tissues are composed of cancerous cells, infiltrated immune cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix. This complex milieu ...