Summary
Published in STAR Protocols (2024), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Labrosse, Kathrin B., et al. Protocol for quantifying drug sensitivity in 3D patient-derived ovarian cancer models
Protocol for quantifying drug sensitivity in 3D patient-derived ovarian cancer models
Research Overview
3D ex vivo cultures let researchers study cancer progression and drug resistance in tissue-like conditions. This protocol measures on-target drug sensitivity in a scaffold-free 3D system by quantifying apoptotic tumor cells at single-cell resolution.
It details sample processing, immunofluorescence staining, semi-high-throughput confocal imaging, and image-based quantification. The protocol is versatile enough to apply in principle to any patient-derived material, and generates data within a four-week window — fast enough to matter for personalized oncology decisions.
Key Discoveries
- Protocol quantifies on-target drug sensitivity at single-cell resolution in scaffold-free 3D culture
- Semi-high-throughput confocal imaging with semi-automated image analysis
- Four-week turnaround makes it viable for personalized oncology decision-making
