Co-culturing multicellular tumor models: Modeling the tumor microenvironment and analysis techniques.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
• Cancer Research
• Proteomics

Background:

• Significant advancements in 2D and 3D cell culture techniques have expanded the repertoire of available tumor models.
• Cellular co-culture models, particularly multicellular tumor spheroids, are increasingly utilized for their physiological relevance.
• Tumor heterogeneity, a critical factor in cancer progression and treatment resistance, is reflected in complex protein profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent co-culturing methods for developing advanced tumor models.
• To explore mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques for analyzing proteomes in mono- and co-cultured tumor models.
• To emphasize the potential of MS and MS imaging for evaluating proteomic heterogeneity in 2D and 3D co-cultures.

Main Methods:

• Focus on co-culturing techniques, specifically utilizing the multicellular tumor spheroid model.
• Detailed description of mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic analysis methods.
• Inclusion of MS imaging techniques for spatial proteomic profiling of tumor models.

Main Results:

• Co-culture methods, especially using multicellular tumor spheroids, offer sophisticated tumor models.
• Mass spectrometry enables detailed analysis of proteomic profiles, revealing tumor heterogeneity.
• MS and MS imaging are powerful, yet underutilized, tools for characterizing proteomes in advanced 2D and 3D co-cultures.

Conclusions:

• Advanced 2D and 3D co-culture models provide valuable platforms for cancer research.
• Mass spectrometry-based approaches are crucial for understanding the proteomic landscape of these models.
• Highlighting MS as an underutilized technique to advance proteomic analysis of tumor models for biological research.