High-risk blastemal Wilms tumor can be modeled by 3D spheroid cultures in vitro

Oncogene. 2020 Jan;39(4):849-861. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-1027-8. Epub 2019 Sep 27.

Abstract

In vitro models represent a critical tool in cancer research to study tumor biology and to evaluate new treatment options. Unfortunately, there are no effective preclinical models available that represent Wilms tumor (WT) - the most common pediatric renal tumor. Especially the high-risk blastemal WT subtype is not represented by the few primary cell lines established until now. Here, we describe a new 3D approach for in vitro cultivation of blastemal WT cells, where primary cultures grown in suspension as spheroids could be propagated long-term. Besides blastemal cultures, we could generate spheroids representing epithelial and stromal WT. Spheroid cultures were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in comparison to corresponding tumor sections and were further characterized by RNA sequencing. Histological appearance of spheroids resembled the original tumor and they expressed marker genes characteristic of early renal development and blastemal WT elements. The cultures were amenable to genetic manipulation and they formed xenograft tumors, which resemble the primary human tumor. This collection of WT spheroids that carry different genetic drivers forms a long-sought tool for drug testing and in vitro modeling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Infant
  • Kidney Neoplasms / genetics
  • Kidney Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Risk Factors
  • Spheroids, Cellular / metabolism
  • Spheroids, Cellular / pathology*
  • Wilms Tumor / genetics
  • Wilms Tumor / metabolism
  • Wilms Tumor / pathology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor