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Detection and Monitoring of Tumor Associated Circulating DNA in Patient Biofluids
Published on: June 8, 2019
Drug screening of cancer cell lines and human primary tumors using droplet microfluidics
Ada Hang-Heng Wong1, Haoran Li2, Yanwei Jia2
1Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
Abstract:
Precision Medicine in Oncology requires tailoring of therapeutic strategies to individual cancer patients. Due to the limited quantity of tumor samples, this proves to be difficult, especially for early stage cancer patients whose tumors are small. In this study, we exploited a 2.4 × 2.4 centimeters polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based microfluidic chip which employed droplet microfluidics to conduct drug screens against suspended and adherent cancer cell lines, as well as cells dissociated from primary tumor of human patients. Single cells were dispersed in aqueous droplets and imaged within 24 hours of drug treatment to assess cell viability by ethidium homodimer 1 staining. Our results showed that 5 conditions could be screened for every 80,000 cells in one channel on our chip under current circumstances. Additionally, screening conditions have been adapted to both suspended and adherent cancer cells, giving versatility to potentially all types of cancers. Hence, this study provides a powerful tool for rapid, low-input drug screening of primary cancers within 24 hours after tumor resection from cancer patients. This paves the way for further technological advancement to cutting down sample size and increasing drug screening throughput in advent to personalized cancer therapy.
Insights
This study introduces a microfluidic chip for rapid, low-input drug screening in oncology. The technology enables personalized cancer therapy by quickly assessing drug efficacy on patient tumor cells.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biotechnology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Precision medicine in oncology necessitates personalized therapeutic strategies.
- Limited tumor sample quantity, especially from early-stage cancers, hinders effective drug screening.
- Developing methods for efficient drug screening with minimal sample input is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a microfluidic chip for rapid, low-input drug screening of cancer cells.
- To enable personalized cancer therapy by facilitating timely drug efficacy assessment.
- To overcome limitations posed by small tumor sample sizes in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based microfluidic chip employing droplet microfluidics.
- Dispersed single cancer cells (cell lines and primary tumors) into aqueous droplets.
- Assessed cell viability within 24 hours of drug treatment using ethidium homodimer 1 staining.
Main Results:
- Screened 5 conditions per 80,000 cells in a single channel.
- Adapted screening conditions for both suspended and adherent cancer cells.
- Demonstrated a powerful tool for rapid drug screening of primary cancers within 24 hours post-resection.
Conclusions:
- The microfluidic chip offers a versatile and powerful tool for personalized cancer therapy.
- Enables rapid, low-input drug screening, addressing challenges with limited tumor samples.
- Advances technological capabilities for increasing drug screening throughput in oncology.
