Isolation of Stem-like Cells from 3-Dimensional Spheroid Cultures

Stem cell isolation remains a major challenge due to co-isolation of progenitor cells using current methods. We developed a novel biomarker-free assay to isolate quiescent stem cells from mixed progenitors. The main advantage of this spheroid-based, label-retention assay, it can expand and isolate live stem cells from their daughter progenitors by FACS using CFSE or Far Red labeling.

While conventional therapies eradicate most prostate cancer cells, cancer stem cells remain due to therapeutic resistance, thus driving disease progression. Stem-like cell isolation will permit identification of novel genes that can be therapeutically co-targeted for effective disease remission. Our label-retention assay's applicable for normal stem cell isolation from various tissues and cells, and for cancer stem cell research.