Protocol for live-cell imaging during Tumor Treating Fields treatment with Inovitro Live

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biophysics
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) represent an FDA-approved anticancer modality utilizing alternating electric fields.
• Understanding the precise molecular mechanisms underlying TTFields efficacy is crucial for advancing cancer therapy.
• Current live-cell imaging techniques face challenges when integrated with TTFields due to heat generation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a robust protocol for live-cell imaging (LCI) of cells undergoing TTFields treatment.
• To develop a system that effectively manages heat produced during TTFields application.
• To facilitate in-depth investigation of TTFields' molecular mechanisms and combination therapies.

Main Methods:

• A novel experimental setup was designed for live-cell imaging compatible with the Inovitro LiveTM system.
• The protocol incorporates a heat dissipation mechanism to counteract thermal effects from TTFields.
• The system is designed for integration with standard LCI-compatible microscopy setups.

Main Results:

• The described protocol successfully enables live-cell imaging during TTFields application.
• The system effectively mitigates heat production, ensuring cell viability and imaging quality.
• The methodology is adaptable to various LCI microscopy configurations.

Conclusions:

• This protocol provides a valuable tool for real-time observation of cellular responses to TTFields.
• It paves the way for detailed molecular-level studies of TTFields' mechanism of action.
• The approach supports the development and testing of novel TTFields-based combination cancer treatments.