Abstract 5363: Aggregation rather than monoclonal expansion explains ovarian cancer spheroid formation
Journal Article
Abstract Purpose: It is thought that a subpopulation of ovarian cancer cells possess stem cell like properties and are responsible for both the emergence of cancer and for subsequent chemoresistance and recurrence. A common approach used to enrich for cancer stems cells in vitro involves culture in selective media on low attachment plates resulting in non-attached multicellular spheres. Spheroids are present in ascites fluid of women with ovarian cancer, and may contain stem cells responsible for metastasis and recurrence. Our objective was to address whether spheroids are truly monoclonal in origin and arise from expansion of a single common progenitor cell. Procedures: We cultivated 5 ovarian cancer cell lines (DOV13, HEYC2, OVCAR2, OVCAR3, and PEO4) to confluence in monolayer cultures. The cell lines were chosen for their ability to form spheroids as well as variation in expression of the stem cell marker CD133 (OVCAR2, OVCAR3 CD133+, others negative). The cells were trypsinized to form single cell suspensions and plated at densities ranging from 100 to 5000 cells per plate in stem cell-selective media in ultra-low attachment culture dishes. A Zeiss Axio Observer microscope was used for time-lapse photography of the plated cells at 5-minute intervals over a 24-hour period. In addition, single cell suspensions were subjected to flow activated cell sorting to plate one cell in each well of 96-well Costar ultra-low cluster plates to monitor clonal formation of spheroids. Results: Cells were dissociated and plated under stem cell-selective conditions and 288 images of each cell line were recorded over 24 hours. The cells were found to begin to aggregate within two to four hours, regardless of cell numbers plated. By 24 hours post-plating, there was pronounced aggregation in 5/5 (100%) cell lines with formation of tightly compacted spheroid structures in 4/5 (80%) cell lines. Single cells in the 96-well plates showed no evidence of spheroid formation over a 14-day observation period. Conclusion: We observed spheroid formation in both CD133 positive and negative ovarian cancer cell lines. Formation occured due to cellular aggregation rather than clonal expansion from a single progenitor with stem cell properties. Although cellular aggregation may be relevant to ovarian cancer biology, these data suggest that spheroid formation should be viewed with caution if used as a proxy for monoclonal expansion of ovarian cancer stem cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5363. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5363
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Huang, Z; Lowery, WJ; Berchuck, A; Murphy, SK
Published Date
- April 15, 2012
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 72 / 8_Supplement
Start / End Page
- 5363 - 5363
Published By
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1538-7445
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0008-5472
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1158/1538-7445.am2012-5363
Language
- en