Cancer Research Solutions

3D cancer cell spheroids

The rapid progress of cancer research over the past few decades has seen the rise of spheroids—3D aggregates of cells in culture—as a valuable research tool that provides more physiological relevance than traditional 2D cell culture.

Learn how spheroids formed using a variety of cancer cell types are analyzed using methods featured in our application notes.

• Acquire and analyze images of FUCCI spheroids
• 3D analysis and morphometric characterization of compound effects on cancer spheroid cultures
• High-throughput confocal imaging of spheroids for screening cancer therapeutics
• Multi-parameter imaging assay for measuring toxicity in a tumor model
• 3D Imaging of cancer cell spheroids
• High-throughput screening of 3D cell cultures with multiple high density scaffold-free spheroids for cancer toxicity studies

Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is an important factor in blood vessel formation and cancer progression. in vitro with tube formation assays is an established method to evaluate angiogenesis. Recent newly developed methods like organ-on-chip models or in vivo using zebrafish as a model system provide different insights in studying angiogenesis. Importantly, scaling up these assays for screening poses significant challenges for image acquisition and analysis.

Learn how our ImageXpress high-content imaging system and MetaXpress software provide a streamlined workflow for the assessment of angiogenesis using models such as zebrafish, tube formation assays, and organ-on-a-chip.

• 3D image analysis and characterization of angiogenesis in organ-on-a-chip model
• A high-content tube formation assay using an in vitro angiogenesis model
• High-throughput imaging assays using zebrafish, a model organism for human disease
• Video: Angiogenesis research for cancer therapeutics

Autophagy, DNA damage

Discovery and evaluation of anti-cancer therapies include development of cell-based models, screening for novel drugs, and understanding the relevant mechanisms of action. The cellular effects of processes like DNA damage and autophagy, a regulated process of degrading and recycling damaged proteins and organelles in response to cellular stress, can be analyzed effeciently using automated cell imaging.

Learn how automated cellular imaging provides an effecient method for analyzing the cellular effects of anti-cancer compounds.

• Streamline assessment of DNA damage
• Detection of autophagy using automated imaging
• Phenotypic characterization of anti-cancer drug effects using automated imaging

Cell migration

Cell migration is broadly defined as the movement of cells from one location to another. It is an essential process required for many biological events including embryonic development, wound healing, and immunological responses. The invasion of tumor cells into surrounding tissues, as well as metastasis, are areas of cancer that can be studied using in vitro cell migration methods.

Learn how to measure cellular migration over time and perform real-time analysis.

• Measure cell migration using discontinuous timelapse imaging of live cells
• Measure cell migration using a simple scratch assay with timelapse live-cell imaging
• Cell migration analysis with Oris Pro assay
• Evaluate cell migration with FluoroBlok inserts

Disease Modeling

Disease modeling is the process of using stem cells to derive 3D cell or tissue models that display the key pathological processes taking place in the actual disease. Disease modeling is vital to our understanding of how diseases progress and developing more effective therapies without the need for donor tissues.

Find out about cell-based and automated organoid assays for disease modeling, 3D imaging, and the role of disease modeling in immuno-oncology and neurodegenerative disease studies.

• Webinar: Establishing and imaging 3D oncology models
• Webinar: Disease modeling in the 21st century: Automated organoid assays with 3D imaging
• Publication: Disease Modeling with 3D Cell-Based Assays Using a Novel Flowchip System and High-Content Imaging
• Webinar: Capturing the complexity of 3D biology: Organoids for disease modelling and toxicity research
• Poster: Novel assay methods for cancer patient derived organoids
• Customer Breakthrough: Bioneer use the ImageXpress Micro Confocal for high-throughput imaging of 3D disease models
• Webinar: High-throughput, organoid-derived organ-on-a-chip systems for drug discovery and disease modelling

Live cell imaging

Live cell imaging is the study of cellular structure and function in living cells via microscopy. It enables the visualization and quantitation of dynamic cellular processes in real time.

Live cell imaging encompasses a broad range of biological applications, from long-term kinetic assays to fluorescently labeling live cells.

Learn how cellular processes are analyzed using methods featured in our application notes

• Monitor cell proliferation and cell cycle in real time
• Evaluating cell cycle inhibitors using a live cell assay
• Monitor multiple stages of apoptosis with live cell kinetic imaging

Luminescence-based methods

Cancer studies often utilize luminescence-based methods for measuring parameters such as cell viability in response to drug treatment, and biomolecular interactions occurring in response to stimulation of cell signaling pathways.

Here, we describe how the SpectraMax® iD5 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader yields optimal results for luminescence assays. Find out how you can:

• Measure cancer cell viability using a homogeneous, stable luminescence assay
• Measure p53-MDM2 protein interaction with NanoBRET technology

Organoid technology / Organ-on-a-Chip

Organoid technology, like organ-on-a-chip emulates organ physiology though co-culture of cells in a supportive 3D matrix and use of microfluidic channels to perfuse nutrients or compounds over the resulting cellular structures. It is rapidly gaining popularity as a biologically relevant screening model for new drugs and toxicity.

• 3D image analysis and characterization of angiogenesis in organ-on-a-chip model
• Video: Physiologically-Relevant Tissue Models Using a High-Throughput Organ-on-a-Chip Platform
• High-content assay for morphological characterization of 3D neuronal networks in a microfluidic platform
• Webinar: Developing high-throughput organ-on-a-chip tissue models for drug discovery using high-content imaging
• Poster: Water immersion objectives for automated high-content imaging to improve precision and quality of complex biological assays

Organoids

Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) multi-cellular microtissues that are designed to closely mimic the complex structure and functionality of human organs. Organoids typically consist of a co-culture of cells which demonstrate a high order of self-assembly to allow for an even better representation of complex in vivo cell responses and interactions, as compared to traditional 2D cell cultures.

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Tumoroids

A tumoroid is a special type of organoid derived from primary tumor cells harvested from cancer patients. Because tumoroids can perfectly mimic a typical tumor microenvironment (TME), they give us insights into the impact of TME on tumor progression. That’s why tumoroids boast massive potential for accurate and cost-effective anticancer drug discovery.

Learn how our ImageXpress High-Content Imaging System can help you visualize tumoroids during drug screening:

• Webinar: Establishing and imaging 3D oncology models
• Webinar: Disease modeling in the 21st century: Automated organoid assays with 3D imaging
• Publication: Disease Modeling with 3D Cell-Based Assays Using a Novel Flowchip System and High-Content Imaging
• Webinar: Capturing the complexity of 3D biology: Organoids for disease modelling and toxicity research
• Poster: Novel assay methods for cancer patient derived organoids