Comparison of 2D and 3D primary cell cultures obtained from explant of high-grade urothelial bladder cancer

Studying the biological characteristics of bladder cancer in primary culture can be an effective way for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, as well as choosing a scheme for personalized therapy.
Aim: To characterize and compare 2D and 3D primary cell cultures obtained from the same tumor sample resected from a patient with high-grade bladder cancer.
Materials and Methods: 2D and 3D primary cell cultures were obtained from explants of resected bladder cancer. Glucose metabolism, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and level of apoptosis were studied.
Results: Multicellular tumor spheroids (3D) differ from planar culture (2D) by more pronounced consumption of glucose from the culture medium (1.7 times higher than 2D on Day 3 of culture), increased lactate dehydrogenase activity (2.5 times higher on Day 3 vs. Day 1 of cultivation, while in 2D culture LDH activity is constant), stronger acidification of the extracellular environment (pH dropped by 1 in 3D and by 0.5 in 2D). Spheroids demonstrate enhanced resistance to apoptosis (1.4 times higher).
Conclusion: This methodological technique can be used both for tumor characterization and for selection of optimal postoperative chemotherapeutic schemes.

Garmanchuk L.V., Yakovlev P.G., Ostrovska G.V., Stupak Yu.A., Skachkova O.V., Gorbach O.I., Stepanov Yu.V. (2023). Comparison of 2D and 3D primary cell cultures obtained from explant of high-grade urothelial bladder cancer. Experimental Oncology, 45 (1), pp. 130 – 136. DOI: 10.15407/exp-oncology.2023.01.130