Developing 3D Organoid Raft Cultures from Patient-Derived Xenografts as Rapid Models to Screen Efficacy of Experimental Therapeutics

Reliable preclinical models are needed for screening new cancer drugs. Thus, we developed an improved 3D tumor organoid model termed “organoid raft cultures” (ORCs). Development of ORCs involved culturing tumors ex vivo on collagen beds (boats) with grid supports to maintain their morphological stru...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Prachi Bajpai, Nilam Sanjib Banerjee, Dianne W. Moore, Hyung-Gyoon Kim, Farrukh Afaq, Carlo M. Contreras, Martin J. Heslin, Vishnu B. Reddy, Shajan Peter, Sooryanarayana Varambally, Sameer Al Diffalha, Upender Manne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/22/14392
Description
Summary:Reliable preclinical models are needed for screening new cancer drugs. Thus, we developed an improved 3D tumor organoid model termed “organoid raft cultures” (ORCs). Development of ORCs involved culturing tumors ex vivo on collagen beds (boats) with grid supports to maintain their morphological structure. The ORCs were developed from patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) of colon cancers excised from immune-deficient mice (NOD/SCID/IL2Rgamma<sup>null</sup>). We utilized these new models to evaluate the efficacy of an investigational drug, Navitoclax (ABT-263). We tested the efficacy of ABT-263, an inhibitor of BCL-2 family proteins, in these ORCs derived from a PDX that showed high expression of antiapoptotic BCL2 family proteins (BCL-2, BCL-X<sub>L</sub>, and BCL-W). Hematoxylin and eosin staining evaluation of PDXs and corresponding ORCs indicated the retention of morphological and other histological integrity of ORCs. ORCs treated with ABT-263 showed decreased expression of antiapoptotic proteins (BCL2, BCL-X<sub>L</sub> and BCL-W) and increased proapoptotic proteins (BAX and PUMA), with concomitant activation of caspase 3. These studies support the usefulness of the ORCs, developed from PDXs, as an alternative to PDXs and as faster screening models.
ISSN:1661-6596
1422-0067