TumorGraft3D models are Champions’ three-dimensional (3D) ex vivo tissue cultures that mimic the structure and function of tumors in vivo. They are innovative tools for studying tissue physiology, pathophysiology, and drug discovery. These models can be derived from various tissues, such as the brain, liver, intestine, etc., and can self-organize into complex structures resembling their respective tumor locations and are cultured in a matrix-free environment. The establishment and growth of 3D tissue culture models require the models to interact with the myriad of cellular and structural components within the tumor microenvironment. In this blog, we will explore the differences between matrix and matrix-free conditions in 3D tissue cultures.

Traditionally, 3D tissue culture models have been cultured using a matrix-based approach, where the supportive extracellular matrix (ECM) is derived from natural or synthetic sources. Commonly used matrices include Matrigel, laminin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid. Matrigel is the most commonly used matrix for 3D tissue cultures due to its ability to mimic the natural basement membrane of the tissue. However, using matrices can also pose several challenges, such as batch-to-batch variability, limited scalability, high costs, and difficulty in downstream analysis. Additionally, animal-derived matrices, such as Matrigel, can introduce xenobiotic components that may impact the reproducibility and translatability of the results across the different species.

Matrix-free approaches, on the other hand, offer an alternative to matrix-based assays. These approaches allow the self-organization of 3D tissue culture models without the use of an exogenous matrix. Matrix-free approaches are based on the principle that extracellular matrix components can be provided by the models themselves, where the cellular component of the 3D structure secretes and organizes the matrix components in a more physiological way generating a supportive microenvironment. There are several matrix-free approaches available, including hanging drop and rotary culture. These approaches offer several advantages over matrix-based assays, such as scalability, reproducibility, and compatibility with downstream analysis. In addition, this technique overcomes the species-specific differences between the cells and the matrix which will negatively influence the human translatability of the findings.

Hanging drop cultures involve the formation of 3D tissue culture models in a droplet of culture medium suspended upside down. This method provides a low-adhesion environment for the models to organize and secrete their own matrix components. Rotary culture is another matrix-free approach that involves the constant rotation of a culture vessel, allowing the models to grow and form a 3D structure without the need for a supporting matrix.

Both matrix-based and matrix-free assays have pros and cons for 3D tissue cultures. Matrix-based assays mimic the ECM of the tissue providing an artificial microenvironment for model growth. Beyond batch-to-batch variability, limited scalability, and high costs; including matrix in your ex vivo cultures can also represent a biological problem. Given the artificial architecture of the matrix, it imposes unnatural stiffness and pre-defined structures that will influence the hierarchical organization of the cells during 3D structure generation. Matrix-free assays offer an alternative that eliminates the need for exogenous matrix components and provides a low-adhesion environment for the 3D tissue culture growth for a fully human and more physiological microenvironment. While matrix-free approaches are promising, they are not without their challenges. Specifically, there is the need for ad-hoc development of various protocols for each different tumor type, including rigorous procedures for optimization and standardization to ensure results are reproducible.

In summary, the decision to use matrix or matrix-free culture conditions in 3D tissue culture assays can influence the downstream translatability of your assay.  Researchers should evaluate the differences and understand how using a matrix or matrix-free culture conditions can impact their research.  

References:

1) Loewa, A., Feng, J.J. & Hedtrich, S. Human disease models in drug development. Nat Rev Bioeng (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-023-00063-3

2) Proietto M, Crippa M, Damiani C, Pasquale V, Sacco E, Vanoni M, Gilardi M. Tumor heterogeneity: preclinical models, emerging technologies, and future applications. Front Oncol. 2023 Apr 28;13:1164535. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1164535. PMID: 37188201; PMCID: PMC10175698.   

3) LeSavage BL, Suhar RA, Broguiere N, Lutolf MP, Heilshorn SC. Next-generation cancer organoids. Nat Mater. 2022 Feb;21(2):143-159. doi: 10.1038/s41563-021-01057-5. Epub 2021 Aug 12. PMID: 34385685.

4) Kozlowski MT, Crook CJ, Ku HT. Towards organoid culture without Matrigel. Commun Biol. 2021 Dec 10;4(1):1387. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02910-8. PMID: 34893703; PMCID: PMC8664924.

Advances in precision medicine have transformed treatments for many types of solid tumors, but similar treatment options have been more limited for hematologic oncology. Now, new ex vivo models are being developed that use patient-derived lymphoma or leukemia cells for screening experimental drugs or biologics.

The lower cost associated with ex vivo studies compared to in vivo ones makes these platforms ideal for large scale screening of therapeutic agents before progressing to in vivo studies with the most promising drug candidates. In addition, lymphoma and leukemia primary cell cultures closely recapitulate the tumor of origin and can provide valuable information about the variability of drug response in a cohort of patients.

In expert hands, these platforms are well-suited to preclinical drug screening and can inform preclinical research decisions as well as clinical care. Some unique aspects of ex vivo hematologic oncology models need to be considered as you advance your research.

1. Viability, Survival, and Proliferation: Patient-derived hematologic malignancies may adapt to ex vivo culture conditions very differently; some cells may die off significantly whereas others proliferate at high rates. It is critical to measure and understand the proliferation and viability parameters of your cultured cells to assure you are working with a reliable specimen.
   
2. Consider Specific Cell Characteristics: Prolonged ex vivo culturing of leukemia or lymphoma cells may introduce unwanted changes to cells that can alter their responses to drugs or antibodies. Be sure to thoroughly characterize the phenotype of a specific cell specimen before and during ex vivo culture to assure that prolonged culture does not significantly alter the cell phenotype or cause unintended mutations. Short term cultures reduce the risk of such changes happening.
   
   
3. The Power of the Panel: A major advantage of using ex vivo cultures is the ability to scale up cultures and screen large panels of experimental antibodies or drugs. This can also be done with multiple patient cultures being screened in parallel.
   
   

Hematologic oncology models have advanced significantly as ex vivo systems have emerged. Contract research organizations that work in this area have the right expertise and are well poised to help you advance your preclinical therapeutic screening or help you narrow down your drug candidates for potential clinical investigation.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL)-based immunotherapy is currently at the forefront of cutting-edge immuno-oncology treatments. TILs are a type of adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) using lymphocytes that are found within tumor tissues; most of these lymphocytes are T cells that can specifically target tumor cells. For TIL-based therapies, these T cells are harvested from a tumor biopsy, expanded ex vivo, and infused back into the patient. Advances in TIL-based therapies are driven by preclinical characterization and screening of TILs against a wide array of tumor types.

Consider these factors related to preclinical TIL therapy studies as you develop new research protocols:

1. Wanted Alive, Not Dead: The development of plate-based TIL assays offers users flexibility and scalability, but it is critical to assess the viability of cultured TILs at the outset of any of these assays. Some TIL cultures are prone to high levels of cell death over time, and culture conditions may need to be optimized to include different cytokines and growth factors to promote viability as well as growth and expansion of tumor-specific T cells.
   
   
2.  Cell Selection: Optimal TIL culture conditions should enhance the expansion of tumor-specific T cells but may also involve a step to deplete other cells prior to expansion. This may involve the depletion of adherent cell subsets with immunosuppressive characteristics such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Removing these cells from ex vivo culture allows TILs to expand and differentiate into T cells with tumor-specific cytotoxic activity.
   
   
3. TIL Test Drive: Ex vivo expansion of TILs must include functional assays in order to ascertain if these cells have anti-tumor properties. Analysis typically includes flow cytometry-based immunophenotyping and characterization of cytokine production and tumor-specific cytotoxicity. An ideal TIL product will show tumor-specific activity with limited off-target effects, and TILs will retain a phenotype that is predicted to be well-tolerated in a patient upon re-infusion.

Preclinical TIL studies are continuing to expand the usage of TIL-based therapies against a wide range of solid tumors, and this field of study will advance further as ex vivo culture and analysis techniques improve.