HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Functional Profiling Leads to Identification of Accurate Genomic Findings

gdpawel · 08-06-2013, 06:16 PM

Tissue-mimicking 3D micro-spheroids have been shown to have more physiologically relevant responses to compounds than traditional 2D cultures, bridging the gap between 2D cell cultures and animal and human trials when it comes to screening drugs for cancer.

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture is already making a big impact on cancer therapy. Rational Therapeutics, based in Long Beach, CA, and the Weisenthal Cancer Group, based in Huntington Beach, CA, are using 3D micro-spheroid culture to provide laboratory-based treatments for cancer patients.

How does it work? First, tumor samples are collected from qualified patients and maintained as micro-spheroids that mimic the body’s environment. The tumor micro-spheroids are then exposed to different drugs and combinations to identify treatments that are most effective at killing the cancer cells. Finally, based on analysis of the results, treatment recommendations are made to help the patients and their physicians determine the best treatment regimens.

According to Rational Therapeutics, the 3D tumor micro-spheroids reflect the complex elements of the body’s cellular environment. The ability to maintain the cells in their native state, where cell-to-cell interactions and heterogeneous cell populations are preserved, has proven critical for the accurate prediction of clinical response.

At the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting in April 2011, Dr. Robert Nagourney, medical director at Rational Therapeutics and instructor in Pharmacology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, presented findings based on results obtained from primary culture of human tumor micro-spheroids.

Specifically, Dr. Nagourney reported that cancer drugs that target different pathways are more effective when used in combination than alone. By targeting more than one pathway, cancer cells are trapped and killed more easily. The results also demonstrate that biological signals measured from functional cytometric profiling are more powerful and useful than DNA indicators in generating compelling data to aid cancer drug selection.

Sources:
Rational Therapeutics http://www.rational-t.com/
Weisenthal Cancer Group http://weisenthalcancer.com/Home.html
Medicine News Today http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/220677.php

08-06-2013, 06:16 PM	#3
gdpawel Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,080	Conducting more predictive screens with 3D micro-spheroid cultures Tissue-mimicking 3D micro-spheroids have been shown to have more physiologically relevant responses to compounds than traditional 2D cultures, bridging the gap between 2D cell cultures and animal and human trials when it comes to screening drugs for cancer. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture is already making a big impact on cancer therapy. Rational Therapeutics, based in Long Beach, CA, and the Weisenthal Cancer Group, based in Huntington Beach, CA, are using 3D micro-spheroid culture to provide laboratory-based treatments for cancer patients. How does it work? First, tumor samples are collected from qualified patients and maintained as micro-spheroids that mimic the body’s environment. The tumor micro-spheroids are then exposed to different drugs and combinations to identify treatments that are most effective at killing the cancer cells. Finally, based on analysis of the results, treatment recommendations are made to help the patients and their physicians determine the best treatment regimens. According to Rational Therapeutics, the 3D tumor micro-spheroids reflect the complex elements of the body’s cellular environment. The ability to maintain the cells in their native state, where cell-to-cell interactions and heterogeneous cell populations are preserved, has proven critical for the accurate prediction of clinical response. At the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting in April 2011, Dr. Robert Nagourney, medical director at Rational Therapeutics and instructor in Pharmacology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, presented findings based on results obtained from primary culture of human tumor micro-spheroids. Specifically, Dr. Nagourney reported that cancer drugs that target different pathways are more effective when used in combination than alone. By targeting more than one pathway, cancer cells are trapped and killed more easily. The results also demonstrate that biological signals measured from functional cytometric profiling are more powerful and useful than DNA indicators in generating compelling data to aid cancer drug selection. Sources: Rational Therapeutics http://www.rational-t.com/ Weisenthal Cancer Group http://weisenthalcancer.com/Home.html Medicine News Today http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/220677.php