Multicellular tumor spheroids: intermediates between monolayer culture and in vivo tumor

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Kunz-Schughart
Keyword(s):  
Monolayer Culture ◽  
Multicellular Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Tumor Spheroids

scholarly journals Encapsulated multicellular tumor spheroids as a novel in vitro model to study small size tumors

2003 ◽  
Vol 57 (12) ◽  
pp. 585-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Markvicheva ◽  
Lina Bezdetnaya ◽  
Artur Bartkowiak ◽  
Annie Marc ◽  
Jean-Louis Gorgen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Tumor Biology ◽  
Cell Encapsulation ◽  
Large Cell ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Multicellular Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Vitro Model

Presently multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) are being widely used in various aspects of tumor biology, including studies in biology and photodynamic therapy. The cellular organization of spheroids allows the recreation of in vivo small tumors much better than all common two-dimensional in vitro models. The cell encapsulation method could be proposed as a novel technique to quickly and easily prepare a large number of spheroids with narrow size distribution within a desirable diameter range. Moreover, the proposed technique for spheroid generation using encapsulated growing tumor cells could provide entirely new avenues to develop a novel spheroid co-culture model (for instance, the in vitro co-cultvation of tumor cells and monocytes, or epithelial cells, or fibroblasts etc). The current research was aimed at developing a simple and reliable method to encapsulate tumor cells and to cultivate them in vitro. In order to generate spheroids, MCF-7 cells were encapsulated and cultivated in 200 ml T-flasks in a 5% CO2 atmosphere at 37?C for 4-5 weeks. The cell proliferation was easily observed using a light microscope. The cells grew in aggregates increasing in size with time. The cell growth resulted in the formation of large cell clusters (spheroids) which filled the whole microcapsule volume in 4-5 weeks.

scholarly journals Confocal Microscopy in Conjunction With Haemocytometry to Evaluate the Imperative Physical Characteristics of Multicellular Tumor Spheroids

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aziz UR RAHMAN
Keyword(s):  
Confocal Microscopy ◽  
Drug Uptake ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Multicellular Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Oriented Growth ◽  
Trypan Blue Exclusion ◽  
Trypan Blue Exclusion Method

Abstract Background: Tumor tissues resist penetration of therapeutic molecules. Multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTSs) were used as an in vitro tumor model. The aim of this study was to determine the growth of MCTSs with the age of spheroids, which could be applied and compared with in vivo drug uptake and penetration. Method: Spheroids were generated by liquid overlay techniques, and their diameter was measured by confocal microscopy for up to two weeks. The trypan blue exclusion method was used to count dead and live cells separately via a hemocytometer. Results: The pentaphysical characteristics of spheroids, including diameter, cell number, volume per cell, viability status, and estimated shell of viable and core of dead cells, were determined. The growth of spheroids was linear over the first week but declined in the 2nd week, which may be due to an overconcentration of dead cells and degraded products inside the spheroids, hence lowering the ratio of live cells in spheroids. Compaction of spheroids occurs from day 3 to day 7, with the mature spheroids having a low amount of extracellular space compared to intracellular volume. Conclusion: Age-oriented growth of MCTSs provides a rationale to predict less rapid penetration as spheroids get older and could be correlated with in vivo tumors to predict pharmaceutical and therapeutic intervention.

scholarly journals Natural and Synthetic Biomaterials for Engineering Multicellular Tumor Spheroids

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2506
Author(s):  
Advika Kamatar ◽  
Gokhan Gunay ◽  
Handan Acar
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Research ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Culture ◽  
Multicellular Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Tumor Spheroids ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Natural And Synthetic

The lack of in vitro models that represent the native tumor microenvironment is a significant challenge for cancer research. Two-dimensional (2D) monolayer culture has long been the standard for in vitro cell-based studies. However, differences between 2D culture and the in vivo environment have led to poor translation of cancer research from in vitro to in vivo models, slowing the progress of the field. Recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) culture have improved the ability of in vitro culture to replicate in vivo conditions. Although 3D cultures still cannot achieve the complexity of the in vivo environment, they can still better replicate the cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions of solid tumors. Multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) are three-dimensional (3D) clusters of cells with tumor-like features such as oxygen gradients and drug resistance, and represent an important translational tool for cancer research. Accordingly, natural and synthetic polymers, including collagen, hyaluronic acid, Matrigel®, polyethylene glycol (PEG), alginate and chitosan, have been used to form and study MCTS for improved clinical translatability. This review evaluates the current state of biomaterial-based MCTS formation, including advantages and disadvantages of the different biomaterials and their recent applications to the field of cancer research, with a focus on the past five years.

Formation, Growth and Morphology of Multicellular Tumor Spheroids from a Human Colon Carcinoma Cell Line (LoVo)

1986 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 459-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Soranzo ◽  
Gabriella Della Torre ◽  
Antonella Ingrosso
Keyword(s):  
Colon Carcinoma ◽  
Exponential Growth ◽  
Human Colon ◽  
Cell Ultrastructure ◽  
Exponential Growth Phase ◽  
Multicellular Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Human Colon Carcinoma Cell ◽  
Human Colon Carcinoma

LoVo human colon carcinoma cells cultured by a liquid overlay technique form and grow as multicellular tumor spheroids. The growth curve of LoVo spheroids exhibits Gompertzian growth kinetics, i.e., exponential growth for 10 days, followed by exponential retardation in the rate of growth. Doubling time in the exponential growth phase is longer than in monolayer cultures (5 days for LoVo spheroids vs. 37 h for monolayers). When LoVo spheroids reach a diameter of about 300 ūm, a necrotic core appears in their center and continuously increases with spheroid growth. The cell ultrastructure and organization in spheroids closely resemble those of the same cells when grown as tumors in vivo or as monolayer, i.e. intestinal epithelium, desmosomes, intracytoplasmic lumina and acinar structures. Individual cells from spheroids can be obtained by trypsinization and assayed for colony formation. LoVo spheroids provide a model which can be readily manipulated and appears to be suitable for evaluation of anticancer drugs. A comparison of LoVo spheroids exposed to doxorubicin with the same cells grown in monolayers emphasized the role of cell organization in determining drug resistance.

scholarly journals Impact of multicellular tumor spheroids as an in vivo-like tumor model on anticancer drug response

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 2295-2302 ◽  
Author(s):  
BIANCA GALATEANU ◽  
ARIANA HUDITA ◽  
CAROLINA NEGREI ◽  
RODICA-MARIANA ION ◽  
MARIETA COSTACHE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anticancer Drug ◽  
Drug Response ◽  
Tumor Model ◽  
Multicellular Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Anticancer Drug Response

scholarly journals Stroma-Rich Co-Culture Multicellular Tumor Spheroids as a Tool for Photoactive Drugs Screening

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilya Yakavets ◽  
Samuel Jenard ◽  
Aurelie Francois ◽  
Yulia Maklygina ◽  
Victor Loschenov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Indocyanine Green ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Chlorin E6 ◽  
Multicellular Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Tumor Spheroids

Conventional 3D multicellular tumor spheroids of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) consisting exclusively of cancer cells have some limitations. They are compact cell aggregates that do not interact with their extracellular milieu, thus suffering from both insufficient extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and absence of different types of stromal cells. In order to better mimic in vivo HNSCC tumor microenvironment, we have constructed a 3D stroma-rich in vitro model of HNSCC, using cancer-associated MeWo skin fibroblasts and FaDu pharynx squamous cell carcinoma. The expression of stromal components in heterospheroids was confirmed by immunochemical staining. The generated co-culture FaDu/MeWo spheroids were applied to study penetration, distribution and antitumor efficacy of photoactive drugs such as Temoporfin and Chlorin e6 used in the photodynamic therapy flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy techniques. We also investigated the distribution of photodiagnostic agent Indocyanine Green. We demonstrated that the presence of stroma influences the behavior of photoactive drugs in different ways: (i) No effect on Indocyanine Green distribution; (ii) lower accumulation of Chlorin e6; (iii) better penetration and PDT efficiency of Temoporfin. Overall, the developed stroma-rich spheroids enlarge the arsenal of in vitro pre-clinical models for high-throughput screening of anti-cancer drugs.

Sulfobetaine polymers for effective permeability into multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTSs)

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuyuki Morimoto ◽  
Keisuke Ota ◽  
Yuki Miura ◽  
Heungsoo Shin ◽  
Masaya Yamamoto
Keyword(s):  
Drug Screening ◽  
Effective Permeability ◽  
Multicellular Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Tumor Tissues ◽  
Animal Tests

Multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTSs) are attractive for drug screening before animal tests because they emulate an in vivo microenvironment. The permeability of the MCTSs and tumor tissues by the candidate...

scholarly journals Challenges of applying multicellular tumor spheroids in preclinical phase

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Se Jik Han ◽  
Sangwoo Kwon ◽  
Kyung Sook Kim
Keyword(s):  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Therapeutic Efficacy ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Physical Interaction ◽  
Multicellular Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Efficacy Evaluation ◽  
Preclinical Phase

AbstractThe three-dimensional (3D) multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTs) model is becoming an essential tool in cancer research as it expresses an intermediate complexity between 2D monolayer models and in vivo solid tumors. MCTs closely resemble in vivo solid tumors in many aspects, such as the heterogeneous architecture, internal gradients of signaling factors, nutrients, and oxygenation. MCTs have growth kinetics similar to those of in vivo tumors, and the cells in spheroid mimic the physical interaction of the tumors, such as cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix interactions. These similarities provide great potential for studying the biological properties of tumors and a promising platform for drug screening and therapeutic efficacy evaluation. However, MCTs are not well adopted as preclinical tools for studying tumor behavior and therapeutic efficacy up to now. In this review, we addressed the challenges with MCTs application and discussed various efforts to overcome the challenges.

Ruthenium Complexes for 1- and 2-Photon Photodynamic Therapy: From In Silico Prediction to In Vivo Applications

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Karges ◽  
Shi Kuang ◽  
Federica Maschietto ◽  
Olivier Blacque ◽  
Ilaria Ciofini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Photodynamic Therapy ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Aqueous Solubility ◽  
The Body ◽  
Photon Absorption ◽  
Multicellular Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Spectral Window ◽  
Photon Excitation ◽  
Polypyridine Complexes

<div>The use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) against cancer has received increasing attention overthe recent years. However, the application of the currently approved photosensitizers (PSs) is somehow limited by their poor aqueous solubility, aggregation, photobleaching and slow clearance from the body. To overcome these limitations, there is a need for the development of new classes of PSs with ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes currently gaining momentum. However, these compounds generally lack significant absorption in the biological spectral window, limiting their application to treat deep-seated or large tumors. To overcome this drawback, ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes designed in silico with (E,E’)-4,4´-bisstyryl 2,2´-bipyridine ligands showed impressive 1- and 2-Photon absorption up to a magnitude higher than the ones published so far. While non-toxic in the dark, these compounds were found phototoxic in various 2D monolayer cells, 3D multicellular tumor spheroids and be able to eradicate a multiresistant tumor inside a mouse model upon clinically relevant 1-Photon and 2 Photon excitation.</div>

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