Abstract B093: The evaluation of the gene expression profile of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) in 3D cell culture vs in vivo and development of new 3D PDACs' models for an evaluation of anti-cancer drug testing

Abstract In the ever-evolving landscape of biomedical research, 3D Cell Culture (3DCC) systems have emerged as pivotal tools for mimicking in vivo environments and fostering more physiologically relevant cellular responses. Despite promises, 3DCC based drug discovery efforts didn’t fulfil the hopes. The classic way 3DCC is done, always starts with 2D cell culture (2DCC) followed by brief 3 day 3DCC and finally drug testing. Following those observations we decided to mimic much more than just brief 3DCC state but enhance the culture by constant 3DCC to 3DCC passages. We characterized the gene expression profiles and proteomic characteristics of pancreatic tumors concluding that prolonged 3DCC is the closest to an in vivo model. The protracted cultivation periods mimic the intricacies of the in vivo environment, enabling a more accurate representation of the molecular dynamics within pancreatic tumors. In our study, we identified a panel of genes characterized by similar expression levels between prolonged 3D cell culture and in vivo conditions, while displaying significant divergence between 2D cultures and short-term 3D cultures when compared to in vivo. These genes play a pivotal role in the progression and treatment of cancer, underscoring the potential of prolonged 3DCC of LifeGel® significance in understanding tumor biology and devising therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, we also investigated the implications of prolonged 3D in vitro cultures on evaluating anti-cancer drug activities. The findings highlight the significance of 3DCC in enhancing our understanding of pancreatic tumor biology and in refining drug screening methodologies for more effective therapeutic interventions. By providing a biomimetic microenvironment, our hydrogels facilitate the formation of complex cellular structures, enabling more accurate representation of tissue architecture and cellular interactions. We delivered LifeGel® platform which presents a myriad of opportunities for researchers seeking to enhance the fidelity and translatability of their in vitro studies into pre-clinial models. Citation Format: Marcin Krzykawski, David Earnshaw, Krzysztof Kus, Artur Pirog, Sachin Kote, Mark Treherne, Justyna Kocik-Krol. The evaluation of the gene expression profile of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) in 3D cell culture vs in vivo and development of new 3D PDACs' models for an evaluation of anti-cancer drug testing [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Research; 2024 Sep 15-18; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(17 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B093.