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Updated: Nov 1, 2025
Establishment and Analysis of Tumor Slice Explants As a Prerequisite for Diagnostic Testing
Published on: November 29, 2018
Protocol for tissue slice cultures from human solid tumors to study therapeutic response
Heidi L Kenerson1, Kevin M Sullivan1, Kevin P Labadie1
1University of Washington Department of Surgery, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Abstract:
The impact of systemic therapy on the tumor microenvironment has been difficult to study in human solid tumors. Our protocol describes steps for establishing slice cultures to investigate response to chemotherapies, immunotherapies, or adoptive cell therapies. Endpoints include changes in viability, histology, live-cell imaging, and multi-omics analyses. The protocol has been applied to a broad array of gastrointestinal malignancies. Culture conditions and treatment parameters can be modified for specific experiments. The platform is highly flexible and easy to manipulate. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Kenerson et al. (2020), Jabbari et al. (2020), Brempelis et al. (2020), and Jiang et al. (2017).
Insights
This study introduces a flexible slice culture protocol to analyze systemic therapy effects on the tumor microenvironment in gastrointestinal cancers. This method enables detailed investigation of treatment responses using various analyses.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Translational Medicine
Background:
- Studying systemic therapy's impact on the tumor microenvironment in human solid tumors is challenging.
- Existing methods may not fully capture complex tumor-host interactions.
- A need exists for robust models to predict therapeutic efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel protocol for establishing human solid tumor slice cultures.
- To enable the investigation of responses to various systemic therapies, including chemotherapies, immunotherapies, and adoptive cell therapies.
- To provide a versatile platform for multi-endpoint analyses of treatment effects.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of human solid tumor slice cultures from patient-derived samples.
- Application of diverse systemic therapies (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, cell therapy) to slice cultures.
- Comprehensive analysis of treatment response using viability assays, histology, live-cell imaging, and multi-omics.
Main Results:
- The protocol is applicable to a wide range of gastrointestinal malignancies.
- Demonstrated feasibility of assessing treatment-induced changes in tumor viability and histology.
- Enabled detailed characterization of cellular and molecular responses through advanced imaging and multi-omics.
Conclusions:
- The developed slice culture protocol offers a flexible and adaptable platform for studying systemic therapy effects on the tumor microenvironment.
- This model facilitates the preclinical evaluation of various cancer treatments in a human-relevant context.
- The protocol supports multi-modal analyses, providing deep insights into treatment response and resistance mechanisms.
