2.5D Organoids Show Promise in Bladder Cancer Research

Three dimensional (3D) organoid culture holds great promise in biomedical research, but 3D culture methods can be expensive due to the cost of gel and stem cell stimulating supplements found in culture media. In a paper published in Scientific Reports today, researchers in Japan describe the replication of cancer cells from diseased bladder tissue in dogs, minimizing the use of costly stem cell products.

Professor Tatsuya Usui's team from Tokyo University set out to create a type of organoids without the use of cell-stimulating supplements and Matrigel. To assess their new cell culture approach, the researchers focused on bladder cancer in dogs, a disease that occurs at a rate similar to humans. They captured diseased cells voided in the dogs' urine and replicated them using a new process that generates bodies mimicking key characteristics of the original tumor cells closely enough that they can effectively be used to diagnose disease and identify possible treatments. The team created the organoids by culturing the captured diseased cells in a protein-rich medium.

"Interestingly, we were able to grow organoid cells using techniques just shy of the traditional, complete 3D bioprinting process—a sort of 2.5D process—while producing most of the 3D organoid features. This means that we could potentially produce cheaper biomaterials for testing and research without jeopardizing much for the accuracy." Professor Usui said.

Once the team succeeded in creating organoids from the dogs' diseased cells, they tested their response to three common anti-cancer drugs as well as several antibodies. They later applied a preservative to the study samples, essentially halting the treatment processes to analyze the results. They also reversed the process, generating 3D organoid cells using traditional bioprinting, then planted them into mice. The cells became tumors as anticipated, giving the team further evidence that 2.5D organoids may be an accurate and effective research medium.

"We are confident that our method will make a breakthrough in bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment in both animals and humans, as it efficiently reduces the culture time, handling, gel, and media supplement costs, and therefore it can be an important platform for the development of new bladder cancer therapy," Usui added.