A Human iPSC-derived 3D platform using primary brain cancer cells to study drug development and personalized medicine

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 5;9(1):1407. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-38130-0.

Abstract

A high throughput histology (microTMA) platform was applied for testing drugs against tumors in a novel 3D heterotypic glioblastoma brain sphere (gBS) model consisting of glioblastoma tumor cells, iPSC-derived neurons, glial cells and astrocytes grown in a spheroid. The differential responses of gBS tumors and normal neuronal cells to sustained treatments with anti-cancer drugs temozolomide (TMZ) and doxorubicin (DOX) were investigated. gBS were exposed to TMZ or DOX over a 7-day period. Untreated gBS tumors increased in size over a 4-week culture period, however, there was no increase in the number of normal neuronal cells. TMZ (100 uM) and DOX (0.3 uM) treatments caused ~30% (P~0.07) and ~80% (P < 0.001) decreases in the size of the tumors, respectively. Neither treatment altered the number of normal neuronal cells in the model. The anti-tumor effects of TMZ and DOX were mediated in part by selective induction of apoptosis. This platform provides a novel approach for screening new anti-glioblastoma agents and evaluating different treatment options for a given patient.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods*
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Precision Medicine / methods*
  • Spheroids, Cellular / drug effects*
  • Temozolomide / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Doxorubicin
  • Temozolomide