Robust formation of optimal single spheroids towards cost‐effective in vitro three‐dimensional tumor models

• Published in: FEBS open bio Vol. 13; no. 7; pp. 1266 - 1277
• Main Authors: Habra, Kinana, Pearson, Joshua R. D., McArdle, Stéphanie E. B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.07.2023; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: 3D single spheroid; Biotechnology and Method Development; breast cancer; Cancer and Oncology; Carnosine; Cell culture; Cell death; Cell differentiation; Cell division; Confocal microscopy; Drinking water; Ethanol; glioblastoma; Localization; Method; Methods; Morphology; Neuroimaging; Phenotypes; Physical characteristics; Prostate cancer; Spheroids; Tumor cell lines; Tumors; U87 MG; Western blotting; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Germany; 3D single spheroid; breast cancer; prostate cancer; glioblastoma; carnosine; U87 MG
• ISSN: 2211-5463; 2211-5463
• DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13614

While useful for fundamental in vitro studies, monolayer cell cultures are not physiologically relevant. Spheroids, a complex three‐dimensional (3D) structure, more closely resemble in vivo tumor growth. Spheroids allow the results obtained relating to proliferation, cell death, differentiation, metabolism, and various antitumor therapies to be more predictive of in vivo outcomes. In the protocol herein, a rapid and high‐throughput method is discussed for the generation of single spheroids using various cancer cell lines, including brain cancer cells (U87 MG, SEBTA‐027, SF188), prostate cancer cells (DU‐145, TRAMP‐C1), and breast cancer cells (BT‐549, Py230) in 96‐round bottom‐well plates. The proposed method is associated with significantly low costs per plate without requiring refining or transferring. Homogeneous compact spheroid morphology was evidenced as early as 1 day after following this protocol. Proliferating cells were traced in the rim, while dead cells were found to be located inside the core region of the spheroid using confocal microscopy and the Incucyte® live imaging system. H&E staining of spheroid sections was utilized to investigate the tightness of the cell packaging. Through western blotting analyses, it was revealed that a stem cell‐like phenotype was adopted by these spheroids. This method was also used to obtain the EC50 of the anticancer dipeptide carnosine on U87 MG 3D culture. This affordable, easy‐to‐follow five‐step protocol allows for the robust generation of various uniform spheroids with 3D morphology characteristics. In the protocol herein, a rapid and high‐throughput method is discussed for the generation of single spheroids using various cancer cell lines in 96‐round bottom‐well plates. The method is associated with significantly low costs per plate without requiring refining or transferring. Homogeneous compact spheroid morphology was evidenced as early as 1 day after following this protocol.