High throughput BH3 profiling: a rapid and scalable technology to BH3 profile on low numbers of cells

A method of predicting sensitivity of cells to a test agent comprising:

• a) culturing cells attached to an adhesive solid surface in a culture medium having serum in the presence and absence of a test agent;
• b) contacting the cultured attached cells in the culture medium having serum present with a BH3 profiling buffer and a pro-apoptotic BH3 domain peptide;
• c) measuring the amount of BH3 domain peptide induced mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) in the attached cells in the culture medium having serum present;
• and
• d) comparing the amount of BH3 domain peptide induced MOMP in the cells cultured in the presence of the test agent to the amount of BH3 domain peptide induced MOMP in the cells cultured in the absence of the test agent,
• wherein an increase in MOMP in the cells cultured in the presence of the test agent compared to the amount of BH3 domain peptide induced MOMP in the cells cultured in the absence of the test agent indicates the cells are sensitive to the test agent.