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Updated: Jul 16, 2025
Longitudinal Morphological and Physiological Monitoring of Three-dimensional Tumor Spheroids Using Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: February 9, 2019
Label-free drug response evaluation of human derived tumor spheroids using three-dimensional dynamic optical
Ibrahim Abd El-Sadek1,2, Larina Tzu-Wei Shen3, Tomoko Mori3
1Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8573, Japan.
Abstract:
This study aims at demonstrating label-free drug-response-patterns assessment of different tumor spheroids and drug types by dynamic optical coherence tomography (D-OCT). The study involved human breast cancer (MCF-7) and colon cancer (HT-29) spheroids. The MCF-7 and HT-29 spheroids were treated with paclitaxel (Taxol; PTX) and the active metabolite of irinotecan SN-38, respectively. The drugs were applied with 0 (control), 0.1, 1, and 10 microM concentrations and the treatment durations were 1, 3, and 6 days. A swept-source OCT microscope equipped with a repeated raster scanning protocol was used to scan the spheroids. Logarithmic intensity variance (LIV) and late OCT correlation decay speed (OCDS[Formula: see text]) algorithms were used to visualize the tumor spheroid dynamics. LIV and OCDS[Formula: see text] images visualized different response patterns of the two types of spheroids. In addition, spheroid morphology, LIV, and OCDS[Formula: see text] quantification showed different time-courses among the spheroid and drug types. These results may indicate different action mechanisms of the drugs. The results showed the feasibility of D-OCT for the evaluation of drug response patterns of different cell spheroids and drug types and suggest that D-OCT can perform anti-cancer drug testing.
Insights
Dynamic optical coherence tomography (D-OCT) offers label-free assessment of anti-cancer drug responses in tumor spheroids. This method visualizes distinct drug-induced patterns, showing its potential for personalized cancer drug testing.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Cancer Research
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Accurate assessment of anti-cancer drug efficacy is crucial for effective cancer treatment.
- Tumor spheroids serve as advanced in vitro models for studying drug responses.
- Label-free imaging techniques offer advantages by avoiding exogenous agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate label-free assessment of drug response patterns in different tumor spheroids using dynamic optical coherence tomography (D-OCT).
- To evaluate the feasibility of D-OCT for anti-cancer drug testing.
- To investigate differential responses of breast (MCF-7) and colon (HT-29) cancer spheroids to paclitaxel and SN-38.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a swept-source OCT microscope with a repeated raster scanning protocol.
- Applied logarithmic intensity variance (LIV) and OCT correlation decay speed (OCDS) algorithms for image analysis.
- Treated MCF-7 and HT-29 spheroids with varying concentrations (0-10 microM) of paclitaxel and SN-38 over 1, 3, and 6 days.
Main Results:
- LIV and OCDS imaging successfully visualized distinct drug-response patterns for MCF-7 and HT-29 spheroids.
- Quantification of spheroid morphology, LIV, and OCDS revealed differential time-courses based on spheroid and drug type.
- Observed variations suggest potentially different drug action mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- D-OCT is a feasible technique for label-free evaluation of drug response patterns in various tumor spheroids and drug types.
- The study demonstrates D-OCT's potential as a tool for anti-cancer drug screening and testing.
- Findings support the utility of D-OCT in understanding differential drug effects and mechanisms.
