Phenotypic and MoA Analysis of Anti-Metastatic Molecules using 3D Tumoroid Invasion Assays, Kinetic Ligand Binding, and Cellular Microscopy

Metastasis is the main cause of death in cancer patients and one of the most complex biological processes in human diseases (Hanahan et al., 2011). The development of therapies designed to forestall the metastatic activity of tumors has been met with multiple challenges, including the choice of an appropriate cell model. Tumors in vivo exist as a three-dimensional (3D) mass of multiple cell types; therefore, incorporating a 3D spheroid-type cellular structure that includes co-cultured cell types forming a tumoroid provides a more predictive model than the use of individual cancer cells cultured on the bottom of a well in traditional two-dimensional (2D) format. Other hurdles include accurate mechanism of action determination, and proper capture and analysis of kinetic reader-based data and microscopic images during the tumor invasion process.

In this webinar we will demonstrate a method to perform 3D tumor invasion assays and mechanism of action determinations. Tumor invasion tracking was performed via digital microscopy and cellular analysis using a novel cell imaging multi-mode reader. The combination presents an accurate, yet easy-to-use method to assess target-based and phenotypic effects of new, potential anti-metastatic drugs.