Methods of monitoring angiogenesis and metastasis in three dimensional co-cultures

Abstract

This disclosure relates to fluorescent cell lines and to the use of such cell lines in monitoring cellular activity, such as angiogenesis. This disclosure further relates to the use of such cell lines in a three-dimensional cell culture to monitor angiogenic and metastatic potential of tumor cells and selecting personalized therapeutics for treatment of cancer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for monitoring angiogenic or metastatic potential of tumor cells comprising:
 preparing a three-dimensional co-culture comprising:
 a first layer comprising a neutral polysaccharide polymer gel in contact with the bottom of a culture dish; 
 a second layer on top of the first layer, comprising:
 a solidified gel matrix; 
 endothelial cells dispersed in the solidified gel matrix; and 
 tumor cells comprising either a tumor spheroid colony or a sample of a tumor biopsy, suspended in the solidified gel matrix; 
 
 and a third layer on top of the second layer, comprising culture medium; 
   incubating the three-dimensional co-culture; and   detecting at least one of endothelial cell proliferation, endothelial cell tubule formation or tumor cell angiotropism of the cells in the second layer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neutral polysaccharide polymer gel comprises agarose. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the endothelial cells stably and constitutively express a fluorescent protein. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the tumor cells stably and constitutively express a fluorescent protein with a different emission spectrum from the fluorescent protein expressed by the endothelial cells. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second layer further comprises at least one additional mammalian cell type dispersed in the solidified gel matrix, and wherein the at least one additional mammalian cell type stably and constitutively expresses a fluorescent protein with a different emission spectrum from the fluorescent protein expressed by the endothelial cells. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second layer further comprises at least one additional mammalian cell type dispersed in the solidified gel matrix, and wherein the at least one additional mammalian cell type stably and constitutively expresses a fluorescent protein with a different emission spectrum from either of the fluorescent proteins expressed by the endothelial cells or the tumor cells. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer further comprises at least one additional mammalian cell type dispersed in the solidified gel matrix. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one additional mammalian cell type is a cell selected from the group consisting of macrophage, mast cell, fibroblast, adipocyte, and pericyte. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, or third layer further comprises at least one test agent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the test agent is a known or potential inhibitor of angiogenesis or metastasis. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tumor cells are derived from a subject and the first, second, or third layer further comprises at least one test agent that has been administered to the subject as part of a cancer treatment. 
     
     
         12 . A method of testing the efficacy of an anti-angiogenic or anti-metastatic cancer treatment for a subject, comprising monitoring angiogenic or metastatic potential of tumor cells by the method of  claim 1 , wherein the tumor cells are derived from the subject and the first, second, or third layer comprises at least one test agent that is a candidate anti-cancer treatment. 
     
     
         13 . A method of selecting a personalized anti-angiogenic or anti-metastatic treatment for cancer in a subject comprising:
 preparing multiple three-dimensional co-cultures, each co-culture comprising:
 a first layer comprising a neutral polysaccharide polymer gel in contact with the bottom of a culture dish; 
 a second layer on top of the first layer, comprising:
 a solidified gel matrix; 
 endothelial cells dispersed in the solidified gel matrix; and 
 tumor cells comprising either a tumor spheroid colony or a sample of a tumor biopsy, suspended in the solidified gel matrix; 
 
 and a third layer on top of the second layer, comprising culture medium, wherein all but one of the co-cultures further comprises at least one test agent comprising an anti-angiogenic or anti-metastatic compound in the first, second, or third layers; 
   incubating the three-dimensional co-cultures;   detecting at least one of endothelial cell proliferation, endothelial cell tubule formation or tumor cell angiotropism of the cells in the second layer; and   selecting the at least one test agent having the greatest effect on at least one of endothelial cell proliferation, endothelial cell tubule formation or tumor cell angiotropism in comparison to endothelial cell proliferation, endothelial cell tubule formation or tumor cell angiotropism in the cells of the co-culture without the test agent in the medium.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the neutral polysaccharide polymer gel comprises agarose. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the endothelial cells stably and constitutively express a fluorescent protein. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the tumor cells stably and constitutively express a fluorescent protein with a different emission spectrum from the fluorescent protein expressed by the endothelial cells. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second layer further comprises at least one additional mammalian cell type dispersed in the solidified gel matrix, and wherein the at least one additional mammalian cell type stably and constitutively expresses a fluorescent protein with a different emission spectrum from the fluorescent protein expressed by the endothelial cells. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second layer further comprises at least one additional mammalian cell type dispersed in the solidified gel matrix, and wherein the at least one additional mammalian cell type stably and constitutively expresses a fluorescent protein with a different emission spectrum from the either of the fluorescent proteins expressed by the endothelial cells or the tumor cells. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second layer further comprises at least one additional mammalian cell type dispersed in the solidified gel matrix. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one additional mammalian cell type is a cell type selected from the group consisting of macrophage, mast cell, fibroblast, adipocyte, and pericyte. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monoclonal tumor spheroid colony is produced using a method comprising:
 preparing a culture in which monoclonal tumor spheroid colonies are grown, comprising:
 a bottom layer comprising about 1% agarose; and 
 a top layer overlaying the bottom layer, wherein the top layer comprises isolated tumor cells suspended in about 0.2% of agarose; 
   incubating the culture to grow monoclonal spheroid colonies;   harvesting monoclonal tumor spheroid colonies from the culture; and   resuspending the monoclonal tumor spheroids in a buffered solution.