Abstract 5270: Evaluation of Cell-able spheroid culture system for culturing patient derived primary tumor cells

Tumor cell microenvironment has significant impact on growth kinetics, cell signaling and response to drug treatments. 3D models are more biologically relevant models compared to 2D models and have gained preference among researchers and drug developers. It is well recognized that primary tumor cell cultures grown in 2D monolayer quickly lose the ability to proliferate while 3D culture conditions on extracellular matrix allows for spheroid formation and proliferation. Cell-able, a novel micropatterned plate has cell adhesion areas in the well bottom where the size and shape of these areas are tightly controlled. Micro-fabrication of the well bottom enables rapid cell attachment and spheroid formation. Cell-able plates are potentially an alternative to culturing cells in 3D without extracellular matrix. We have evaluated spheroid formation, morphology, duration of viability, histopathology and expression of markers in patient-derived primary tumor cells from different tumor types when cultured on Cell-able plates compared to Cultrex extracellular matrix (ECM) coated plates. In addition we have utilized Cell-able plates to grow patient-derived tumor cells and evaluate the anti-proliferative responses to cytotoxic and targeted agents using high content imaging coupled with immunofluorescence characterization enabling subpopulation analysis within the spheroids. Our results indicate that patient-derived tumor cells from multiple indications as well as tumor cell lines can be cultured on Cell-able plates as spheroids that resemble the micro architecture of tumors and are therefore a suitable 3D model. The results of high content imaging analysis suggest that Cell-able plates could be used as a valuable tool in in vitro predictive assay models in oncology drug development. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5270. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5270