Fluorescence-based experimental model to evaluate the concomitant effect of drugs on the tumour microenvironment and cancer cells

Karthik Ramasamy, Hazera Khatun, Lee Macpherson, Mathew P Caley, Justin Sturge, Ghulam J Mufti, Stephen A Schey, Yolanda Calle

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The response of the tumour microenvironment to anti-cancer drugs can influence treatment efficacy. Current drug-screening methodologies fail to distinguish and quantify simultaneously the concomitant effect of drugs on the tumour stroma and cancer cells. To overcome this limitation we have developed a fluorescence-based experimental model that employs mCherry-labelled stromal cells (e.g. bone marrow fibroblastic stromal cells) co-cultured in direct contact with enhanced green fluorescent protein-labelled tumour cell lines for accurate assessment of proliferation and viability in both cell compartments and adhesion of tumour cells. Additionally, we used fluorescence-based image analysis to determine morphological changes that correlate with cell function (e.g. morphology of the actin cytoskeleton and nuclearity of osteoclasts to predict their bone resorption activity). Using this platform we have revealed that dexamethasone induces HS5 fibroblast proliferation and contact with multiple myeloma cells via a process involving Src/c-Abl kinases. Osteoclasts also inhibited dexamethasone-induced apoptosis in myeloma cells while retaining their normal morphology and functionality in bone resorption. Myeloma resistance to dexamethasone mediated by HS5 cells and osteoclasts was reversed by treatment with the Src/c-Abl inhibitor dasatinib but not with bortezomib. This new experimental platform provides a more precise screening of new therapeutics for improved efficacy of tumour cell killing within the bone marrow microenvironment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)564-79
Number of pages16
JournalBritish Journal of Haematology
Volume157
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2012

Keywords

  • Actins
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Apoptosis
  • Bone Marrow
  • Bone Resorption
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Dasatinib
  • Dexamethasone
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Oncogene Proteins v-abl
  • Osteoclasts
  • Pyrimidines
  • Stromal Cells
  • Thiazoles
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • src-Family Kinases

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