Efficacy of Select Viability Assays in Multicellular Tumor Spheroid Culture

摘要

Multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) mimic the physiological state of tumors in vivo more accurately than do cell monolayers. Essential tumor characteristics such as hypoxia, drug resistance, and the extracellular matrix may collectively be included in cancer therapy screening through the use of this complex in vitro model. Attendant with the increased complexity of the MCTS model is increased difficulty of application, particularly in assaying MCTS viability. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the acid phosphatase, resazurin, and live/dead assays in A549 MCTS culture. Experiments were conducted to examine consistency and accuracy as well as usefulness for future hyperthermia and chemotherapy studies. The results presented herein contribute to the development and validation of assays necessary to the application of MCTS in cancer research.