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April-Monn SL, Wiedmer T, Skowronska M, Maire R, Schiavo Lena M, Trippel M, Di Domenico A, Muffatti F, Andreasi V, Capurso G, Doglioni C, Kim-Fuchs C, Gloor B, Zatelli MC, Partelli S, Falconi M, Perren A, Marinoni I. Three-Dimensional Primary Cell Culture: A Novel Preclinical Model for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. Neuroendocrinology 2021; 111:273-287. [PMID: 32241015 DOI: 10.1159/000507669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are still insufficiently understood. Efficacy of currently approved PanNET therapies is limited. While novel treatment options are being developed, patient stratification permitting more personalized treatment selection in PanNET is yet not feasible since no predictive markers are established. The lack of representative in vitro and in vivo models as well as the rarity and heterogeneity of PanNET are prevailing reasons for this. In this study, we describe an in vitro 3-dimensional (3-D) human primary PanNET culture system as a novel preclinical model for more personalized therapy selection. We present a screening platform allowing multicenter sample collection and drug screening in 3-D cultures of human primary PanNET cells. We demonstrate that primary cells isolated from PanNET patients and cultured in vitro form islet-like tumoroids. Islet-like tumoroids retain a neuroendocrine phenotype and are viable for at least 2 weeks in culture with a high success rate (86%). Viability can be monitored continuously allowing for a per-well normalization. In a proof-of-concept study, islet-like tumoroids were screened with three clinically approved therapies for PanNET: sunitinib, everolimus and temozolomide. Islet-like tumoroids display varying in vitro response profiles to distinct therapeutic regimes. Treatment response of islet-like tumoroids differs also between patient samples. We believe that the presented human PanNET screening platform is suitable for personalized drug testing in a larger patient cohort, and a broader application will help in identifying novel markers predicting treatment response and in refining PanNET therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Leonhard April-Monn
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tabea Wiedmer
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Renaud Maire
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Mafalda Trippel
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Annunziata Di Domenico
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Muffatti
- Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Andreasi
- Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele Capurso
- Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Doglioni
- Unit of Pathology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Università Vita e Salute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Beat Gloor
- Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maria Chiara Zatelli
- Section of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefano Partelli
- Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Università Vita e Salute, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Falconi
- Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Università Vita e Salute, Milan, Italy
| | - Aurel Perren
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ilaria Marinoni
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,
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