Abstract
Background
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive brain tumour in adults. Despite current advances, the existing standard of treatment is ineffective, and the survival prognosis remains just over a year from diagnosis. Migrating tumour cells have been implicated in the therapeutic resistance of GBM. They spread by interacting with structures such as white matter tracts and inevitably cause recurrence of the tumour. Valuable cell models able to capture the invasiveness of GBM are critically needed to develop innovative therapies targeting migrating GBM cells.
Material and Methods
We established an
in vitro model mimicking the GBM microenvironment by co-culturing patient-derived GBM cells and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neural spheroids with radiating axons. Using high content imaging, we developed a robust workflow to quantify the GBM cells infiltration of the neural spheroid in endpoint assays. Images were acquired on the Operetta CLS high content device (Perkin Elmer) and analysed using the built-in Harmony Imaging and Analysis Software. We also performed live imaging assays using the Livecyte quantitative phase imager (Phasefocus), in which we studied the directionality, displacement and speed of the GBM cells engaged on axons.
Results
Our data indicate that GBM cells change morphology when cultured on axons and that they migrated towards the neural spheroid once engaged on axons. We showed that cell lines from different patients vary in migratory properties as well as in levels of infiltration capability. Finally, we used this model to test several antagonists to pathways involved in migration of GBM cells.
Conclusion
The main deliverable of this project is the setup of a novel model able to mimic the GBM migration on axons and able to screen for compounds affecting cell migration. This could pot entially offer innovative precision-medicine therapies.
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