Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Physiologic Patient Derived 3D Spheroids for Anti-neoplastic Drug Screening to Target Cancer Stem Cells
Published on: July 5, 2019
Tumorsphere as an effective in vitro platform for screening anti-cancer stem cell drugs
Che-Hsin Lee1,2, Cheng-Chia Yu3,4,5, Bing-Yen Wang6,7,8
1Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a sub-population of cells within cancer tissues with tumor initiation, drug resistance and metastasis properties. CSCs also have been considered as the main cause of cancer recurrence. Targeting CSCs have been suggested as the key for successful treatment against cancer. Tumorsphere cultivation is based on culturing cancer cells onto ultralow attachment surface in serum-free media under the supplementation with growth factors such as epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. Tumorsphere cultivation is widely used to analyze the self-renewal capability of CSCs and to enrich these cells from bulk cancer cells. This method also provides a reliable platform for screening potential anti-CSC agents. The in vitro anti-proliferation activity of potential agents selected from tumorsphere assay is more translatable into in vivo anti-tumorigenic activity compared with general monolayer culture. Tumorsphere assay can also measure the outcome of clinical trials for potential anti-cancer agents. In addition, tumorsphere assay may be a promising strategy in the innovation of future cancer therapeutica and may help in the screening of anti-cancer small-molecule chemicals.
Insights
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor growth and recurrence. Tumorsphere assays effectively enrich CSCs and screen for new anti-cancer drugs, offering a promising strategy for future cancer therapeutics.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are implicated in tumor initiation, metastasis, drug resistance, and recurrence.
- Targeting CSCs is crucial for effective cancer treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the utility of tumorsphere cultivation for CSC analysis and enrichment.
- To emphasize the role of tumorsphere assays in screening anti-CSC agents and predicting therapeutic efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Tumorsphere cultivation involves culturing cancer cells in serum-free media on ultralow attachment surfaces with growth factors.
- This method enriches CSCs and analyzes their self-renewal capabilities.
- Assays are used to screen for potential anti-CSC agents.
Main Results:
- Tumorsphere assays provide a reliable platform for identifying and enriching CSCs.
- In vitro anti-proliferation activity observed in tumorsphere assays correlates better with in vivo anti-tumorigenic activity than monolayer cultures.
- Tumorsphere assays can evaluate potential anti-cancer agents and inform clinical trial outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Tumorsphere assays are valuable for studying CSCs and their role in cancer.
- This method facilitates the screening of novel anti-cancer therapeutics and small-molecule chemicals.
- Tumorsphere assays represent a promising strategy for developing future cancer treatments.
