Retaining cell–cell contact enables preparation and culture of spheroids composed of pure primary cancer cells from colorectal cancer

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1015938108
• Publication Date: 2011-03-29T02:34:26Z
• Authors: Jumpei Kondo; Hiroko Endo; Hiroaki Okuyama; Osamu Ishikawa; Hiroyasu Iishi; Masahiko Tsujii; Masayuki Ohue; Masahiro Inoue
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; Cell Survival; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Communication; Cadherins; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; 3. Good health; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Spheroids, Cellular; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Animals; Humans; Colorectal Neoplasms

Primary culture of the cancer cells from patients’ tumors can provide crucial information of individual tumors, yet the technology has not been optimized until now. We developed an innovative culture method for primary colorectal cancer cells, based on the principle that cell–cell contact of cancer cells was maintained throughout the process. When tumor tissue was dissociated into cell clusters, in which cell–cell contact was retained, they rapidly formed spheroids that we termed cancer tissue-originated spheroids (CTOSs). CTOSs of colorectal cancer consisted of highly purified and viable cancer cells, and they were prepared with high efficiency. In immunodeficient mice, CTOSs formed xenograft tumors that retained the features of the parental tumors. Moreover, CTOSs were able to be cultured and expanded in vitro using a 3D culture system and stem cell culture medium. This method allowed evaluation of chemosensitivity and signal pathway activation in cancer cells from individual patients. Easy preparation and culture of pure primary cancer cells provides an innovative platform for studying cancer biology and developing personalized medicine.