Turning to a new dimension in cell culture for cancer research

Presented By:
Carlemi Calitz, PhD - Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Phamacen North-West University (NWU)

Speaker Biography:
I completed my B.Sc in Biological Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) in 2010, followed by a Hons. B.Sc in Biochemistry (NWU) in 2011. In 2012 I accepted a position as senior laboratory technician in the department Pharmaceutics at NWU. This enabled me to pursue a M.Sc in Pharmaceutics (2013-2014). In 2014 I was invited to join the international Golden Key honour society for my academic achievements as part of the top 15% of students in my field at NWU.
I completed my Ph.D in Pharmaceutics in 2017 under the guidance of Dr C. Gouws, Dr K. Wrzesinksi and Prof S.Hamman. My thesis focused on the establishment of three-dimensional cell culture models for drug bio-transformation and toxicity studies. I was awarded the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) Innovation doctoral scholarship and travel award in 2016 and 2017. With this award I was able to spend six months at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in Odense, Denmark, learning the art of three-dimensional spheroid culturing.
Since 2014 I have published five first author publications in international peer-reviewed journals. In 2014 I presented at the Young Scientist award of the 35th conference of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of South Africa. I have also acted as reviewer for the journal Current Pharmacology Reports, and hold membership to the South African Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Webinar:
Turning to a new dimension in cell culture for cancer research

Webinar Abstract:
The current gold standard in in vitro pre-clinical cancer treatment screening remain cell lines, grown on static flat surfaces – generally referred to known as traditional two-dimensional cultures (2D). When considering drug discovery and development to discern possible treatment options, ideally one should to implement an experimental model that best mimics the in vivo environment of man. Organs boast a unique three-dimensional cellular architecture, with cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, creating a complex communication network through biochemical and mechanical signals. More recently, proof of concept that three-dimensional cell culturing (3D) is revolutionizing the evaluation of lead compounds has been shown. However, important and distinct differences exist between 2D and 3D cell culturing, as well as the in vivo situation. These critical differences culminate in discrepancies in treatment responses between these systems, suggesting that 3D models may be able to provide a more accurate representation of how a specific organ or cancer would react, compared to 2D. Various types of 3D cell culture model systems are currently available and being explored. It is important to note that the choice of system depends on the hypothesis, study design or target organ, and not one system is superior to the other and each offers various advantages and disadvantages. The dynamic micro-gravity spheroid 3D system, exhibits the ability to overcome many of the shortcomings of traditional 2D cell cultures. In implementing this system in our laboratories, we aim to establish specific spheroid models and platforms to answer the pressing and relevant questions currently in cancer research.

Learning Objectives:
-Discerning the advantages and disadvantages of 2D versus 3D cell culturing approaches
-Understanding the method of rotating micro-gravity bioreactors as a means to produce long-term spheroid cultures
-Implementing spheroid cultures in cancer research

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