In the cancer stem cell model of tumors, cancer stem cells (CSC) are defined as a small subset of malignant cells with the exclusive ability to self-renew and maintain the tumor. They can differentiate into a heterogeneous mass of non-tumourigenic cancer cell types, which usually constitute the majority of the tumour. These cells also have the ability to produce metastasis.
CSC are now considered to be a new therapeutic target and it is believed that their elimination could lead to permanent remission or even cure. This might be achieved by direct eradication of the CSC or by specific adaptation of CSC cell division from asymmetric to symmetric leading to elimination of the CSC population by blocking their self-renewal capabilities. For this to be achieved, detailed characterization is required. Right now, one of the biggest difficulties is the lack of specific markers to identify them as well as obtaining enough number of purified stem cells. One of the most commonly used method is the tumorsphere formation in 3D cultures.
The PromoCell Cancer Stem Cell Medium has been designed to meet your requirements for the extended serial 3D tumorsphere culture: it allows a minimum of 10 serial passages enriching CSC percentage. The advantage of serial tumorsphere culture is the option for simultaneous determination of the sphere formation efficiency. This provides quantitative information on the temporal CSC ratio during culture on an exclusively functional basis, only CSC grow properly in suspension.
With this method tumorsphere formation grows during passages: 2% in P1, 14% in P4 and 28% in P9.
Main characteristics:
– Compatible with the most commonly used cancer cell lines
– Also applicable for in vitro models of metastasis
– Great efficiency in tumorespheres formation (28% in P9)
– Allows at least 10 serial passages
– Ready to-use
– Chemically defined: No serum nor animal components
More information about Promocell Cancer Stem Cell Medium
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