Advancing Cancer Cell-Based Assays with Assay-Ready Tumoroids

Cancer research is continually evolving, and patient-derived tumoroids are playing a crucial role in this progress. These three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models, also known as cancer organoids, closely mimic the genetic profile, gene expression patterns, and architecture of actual tumors. Therefore, tumoroids are increasingly being used for basic research, drug development, and functional assays.

Introducing Assay-Ready, Cryopreserved Tumoroids

OncoPro Tumoroid Culture Medium has enabled the development of cryopreserved, assay-ready tumoroids that can be directly used in high-throughput screening assays. Assay-ready tumoroids are three-dimensional cell culture models derived from tumor tissues that are pre-prepared and standardized for use in various assays. This advancement is important because it allows researchers to bypass the often lengthy cell culture period typically required post-thaw, streamlining the experimental process.

Benefits of Assay-Ready Tumoroids

1. Reduced Cell Culture Burden: Assay-ready tumoroids eliminate the need for continuous and labor-intensive cell culture work, significantly reducing the time and effort required to maintain active cultures.
2. Assay Flexibility: OncoPro Tumoroid Culture Medium allows for the bulk production and cryopreservation of tumoroids. This ensures a consistent and ample supply for extensive screening campaigns without the need for continuous cell culture maintenance.
3. Consistent Biological Inputs: Cryopreserved tumoroids provide a consistent supply of biologically relevant cancer models, reducing variability in experimental results. Researchers can use the same batch of tumoroids across multiple experiments, ensuring reproducibility and reliability.

Efficient Drug Screening Workflow with Assay-Ready Tumoroids

The workflow for using cryopreserved tumoroids is straightforward and efficient:

1. Cryopreservation: Tumoroids are expanded, dissociated, and cryopreserved at desired cell densities.
2. Thawing and Seeding: When needed, the cryopreserved tumoroids are thawed and seeded into appropriate assay plates.
3. Compound and/or Effector Cell Addition: After a brief culture period, compounds or immune cells are added to the tumoroids.
4. Assay Readout: Parameters of interest are measured after incubation, providing valuable data on drug efficacy and toxicity.
5. Data Analysis: Results are collected and analyzed, offering insights into the effectiveness of the tested compounds.

Case Studies: Applications for Assay-Ready Tumoroids

Researchers at Thermo Fisher Scientific have recently explored the use of assay-ready tumoroids and summarized results from two case studies in a white paper.

Compound Screening

In one study, colorectal cancer tumoroids were cryopreserved at various densities and later thawed for drug screening. The results showed that the functional response of assay-ready tumoroids was nearly identical to those from active cultures. This demonstrates that cryopreserved tumoroids can be used directly in assays without compromising the quality of the results.

Immune Cell Cytotoxicity Testing

Another study tested the use of cryopreserved tumoroids for immunotherapy cytotoxicity assays. Colorectal tumoroids were thawed and plated, then exposed to natural killer cells. The results were consistent with those obtained from tumoroids in active culture, proving that cryopreserved tumoroids are suitable for immune cell cytotoxicity testing.

Are There Challenges to Using Cryopreserved Tumoroids?

While the benefits are clear, some tumoroid lines may require additional optimization. For instance, some lines may exhibit slow recovery from cryopreservation or inconsistent morphology upon thawing. For many tumoroid lines, these challenges can be addressed with practical solutions such as coating culture vessels with bovine serum albumin (BSA) or using ultra-low attachment plates.

Streamline your Cancer Research with Assay-Ready Tumoroids

Cryopreserved, assay-ready tumoroids offer a reliable and efficient platform for high-throughput drug screening. By combining the physiological relevance of 3D tumoroid models with the convenience and consistency of cryopreservation, researchers can streamline their workflows and reduce cell culture burden. OncoPro Tumoroid Culture Medium is a valuable tool in this process, helping to advance our understanding of cancer biology and improve treatment outcomes for patients.

Explore the full white paper to learn more about the detailed findings and how assay-ready tumoroids can enhance your research efforts.

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For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.