Ex vivo generation of functional leukemia cells in a three-dimensional bioreactor
AssigneeUniversity of Rochester
InventorsJ.H. David Wu, Athanassios Mantalaris, Nicki Panoskaltsis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides cultured leukemia cells. The method comprises isolating mononuclear cells, which contain leukemia cells, culturing the leukemia cells in a chamber having a scaffolding covered or surrounded with culture medium, where the scaffolding allows for leukemia cells to have cell to cell contacts in three dimensions. The subject leukemia cells are useful for screening compounds which inhibit or stimulate leukemia cell function or formation.
Claims55
A method of culturing leukemia cells, comprising:
- isolating mononuclear cells, which contain leukemia cells and
- culturing the cells in a chamber having a scaffolding covered or surrounded with culture medium, wherein said scaffolding allows for leukemia cells to have cell to cell contacts in three dimensions.
A method of screening for drugs for efficacy in treating leukemia comprising:
- isolating mononuclear cells, which contain leukemia cells;
- culturing the cells in a container having a scaffolding covered or surrounded with culture medium, wherein said scaffolding allows for cells to have cell to cell contacts in three dimensions;
- adding a test compound to the container;
- and
- determining whether the test compound inhibits growth of leukemia cells.
A method of identifying genes which are related to leukemia cell formation or function which comprises:
- isolating mononuclear cells, which contain leukemia cells;
- culturing the leukemia cells in a chamber having a scaffolding covered or surrounded with culture medium, wherein said scaffolding allows for leukemia cells to have cell to cell contacts in three dimensions;
- altering one or more culture conditions in a test culture;
- determining leukemia cell number and function in the test sample;
- and
- screening for a gene or genes associated with the change in leukemia cell number or function in the test sample.
A method for screening for compounds which effect leukemia cell formation which comprises:
- isolating mononuclear cells, which contain leukemia cells;
- culturing the cells in a container having a scaffolding covered or surrounded with culture medium, wherein said scaffolding allows for cells to have cell to cell contacts in three dimensions;
- adding a test compound to the container;
- removing cultured cells;
- and
- determining the ability of the test compound to effect leukemia cell formation.
A method for diagnosis or prognosis of leukemia comprising:
- isolating mononuclear cells which possibly contain leukemia cells;
- culturing the cells in a container having a scaffolding covered or surrounded with culture medium, wherein the scaffolding allows for cells to have cell to cell contacts in three dimensions and for leukemia cell formation;
- and
- determining the type and stage of leukemia.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.