Generation and Expansion of Primary, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Tumor Lines

Summary

The goal of this method paper is to demonstrate a robust and reproducible methodology for the enrichment, generation, and expansion of primary tumor cell lines from surgically resected pleural mesothelioma.

Abstract

Current methodologies for the expansion of primary tumor cell lines from rare tumor types are lacking. This protocol describes methods to expand primary tumor cells from surgically resected, malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) by providing a complete overview of the process from digestion to enrichment, expansion, cryopreservation, and phenotypic characterization. In addition, this protocol introduces concepts for tumor generation that may be useful for multiple tumor types such as differential trypsinization and the impact of dissociation methods on the detection of cell surface markers for phenotypic characterization. The major limitation of this study is the selection of tumor cells that will expand in a two-dimensional (2D) culture system. Variations to this protocol, including three-dimensional (3D) culture systems, media supplements, plate coating to improve adhesion, and alternate disaggregation methods, could improve this technique and the overall success rate of establishing a tumor line. Overall, this protocol provides a base method for establishing and characterizing tumor cells from this rare tumor.

Introduction

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare tumor highly associated with asbestos exposure. Although immunotherapy-based approaches have shown encouraging results, there is a paucity of treatment options available to patients that develop this disease, and the overall 5-year survival rate is low^1,2. Efforts are underway at multiple institutions to better understand this disease and identify novel therapeutic targets that may improve patient outcomes. While there are multiple mesothelioma mouse models, access to primary mesothelioma tumor cells is more limited³. In vitro expa....

Protocol

All methods described here have been approved by the Institution Review Board (IRB) of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. This pertains to standard-of-care, surgically resected MPM tumors removed following informed consent.

1. Preparation of tumor digestion media and other associated media

1. To prepare tumor digestion media, add 5 mL of 100% Pen/Strep (Penicillin/Streptomycin) to 500 mL of sterile Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 medium in a laminar flow hood.
   1. Transfer the medium to a 500 mL, 0.22 µm polyethersulfone (PES) sterile filter for vacuum filtration.
      NO....

Results

To determine fibroblast contamination of early-passage cultures, cells are assessed using an inverted phase microscope to identify the frequency of fibroblasts relative to the other adherent cells present. Figure 1 shows examples of increasing fibroblast contamination of 80% (Figure 1A), 50% (Figure 1B), and 30% (Figure 1C), compared to a culture with no fibroblast contamination (Fi.......

Discussion

While this protocol is straightforward, there are a few critical steps that must be closely followed. The early-passage freeze is important to preserve the ability to repeat the tumor-cell enrichment process if initially unsuccessful. The ability to assess fibroblastic contamination by eye to decide the correct splitting and media starvation technique is vital to preventing fibroblast overgrowth in the culture. In addition, the differential trypsinization method requires careful observation of the cells during incubation.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
10 mL serological pipettes	BD Falcon	357551
15 mL conical tubes	BD Falcon	352097
2 mL aspirating pipettes	BD Falcon	357558
5 mL serological pipettes	BD Falcon	357543
50 mL conical tubes	BD Falcon	352098
6-well microplates, tissue culture treated	Corning	3516
Accutase	Innovative Cell Technologies	AT104	A protease-collagenase mixture considered to be more effective in preserving epitopes for flow cytometry.
anti-CD325 (N-Cadherin) PE	Invitrogen	12-3259-42
anti-CD90 PE-Cy7	BD Biosciences	561558
anti-Mesothelin APC	Miltenyi	130-118-096
Bovine Serum Albumin 30%	Sigma	A8577-1L
Cell Dissociation buffer, enzyme-free	Thermo Fisher Scientific	13151014
Cell strainer (70 µm)	Greiner Bio-One	542-070
Centrifuge with 15 mL and 50 mL adaptors
Collagenase Type 1	Sigma-Aldrich	C-0130	Dissolve 1.5 g of Collagenase type I into 100 mL of sterile DMEM and aliquot in 5 mL volumes. Label well and store at -20 °C.
Controlled-rate freezing chamber	Thermo Fisher Scientific	15-350-50
Cryovials	Thermo Fisher Scientific	5000-0020
CulturPlate-96	Packard Instrument Company	6005680	White, opaque 96-well microplate.
Dimethyl sulfoxide	Thermo Fisher Scientific	BP231-100
DNAse I (from bovine pancreas)	Sigma-Aldrich	D4527	Aliquot at 50 μL, label well and store at -20 °C. After thawing, keep at 4 °C for up to 1 month.
Dulbecco's Phosphate buffered saline solution 1x	Corning	21-031-CV
Ethanol 200 proof	Thermo Fisher Scientific	A4094
FACS tubes-filter top	BD Falcon	352235
Fetal bovine serum	Gemini-Bio	100-106
GentleMACS C-tubes	Miltenyi	130-093-237
GentleMACS Octo-dissociator with heater apparatus	Miltenyi	130-096-427	Includes specialized heater apparatus sleeves used to apply heat to the C-tubes during dissocation.
Goat serum	Sigma-Aldrich	G9023	Aliquot and store at -20 °C.
Hank's Balanced Salt solution, 500 mL	Corning	MT21022CV
Hyaluronidase	Sigma-Aldrich	H3506	Dissolve 0.15 g of Hyaluronidase into 100 mlLof sterile DMEM and distribute into 1.0 mL aliquots. Label well and store at -20 °C.
Inverted-phase microscope
Laminar flow hood
Live/dead yellow dye	Life Technologies	L-34968
Micropipettor tips, 20 µL	ART	2149P
Micropipettor, 0.5-20 µL
Mycoalert assay control set	Lonza	LT07-518	Aliquot positive controls and store at -20 °C.
Mycoalert Plus mycoplasma detection kit	Lonza	LT07-710	Aliquot reagent and substrate and store at -20 °C. Save remaining buffer and aliquot for negative control and store at -20°C.
Paraformaldehyde 16%	Electron Microscopy Sciences	15710	Prepare stock by filtering through a PVDF syringe filter (Millex cat. no. SLVV033RS) and aliquot under a fume hood. Store at -20 °C.
Penicillin-streptomycin 10,000 U/mL	Gibco	15140-122
Pipet aid
Plate reader with luminescent capabilities	BioTek	Synergy HT	any plate reader with these specifications can be used
RPMI 1640 media	Corning	10-040-CV
Scalpel	Andwin	2975#21
Stericup Quick Release-GP sterile vacuum filtration system, 0.22 µm PES Express PLUS, 500 mL	EMD Millipore	S2GPU05RE
Steriflip-GP filter, 0.22 µm PES Express PLUS, 50 mL	EMD Millipore	SCGP00525
Sterile forceps	Thermo Fisher Scientific	12-000-157
T25 flasks, tissue culture treated	Corning	430639
T75 flasks, tissue culture treated	Corning	430641U
Trypan blue solution 0.4%	Gibco	15250-061
Trypsin EDTA 0.05%	Corning	25-052-CI
ViaStain acridine orange/propidium iodide (AO/PI) solution	Nexcelom	CS2-0106-5ML