Perfusion-Based Bioreactor Culture and Isothermal Microcalorimetry for Preclinical Drug Testing with the Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor SLC-0111 in Patient-Derived Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a rare disease. Rare are also the possibilities to test new therapeutic options for neuroblastoma in clinical trials. Despite the constant need to improve therapy and outcomes for patients with advanced neuroblastoma, clinical trials currently only allow for testing few substances in even fewer patients. This increases the need to improve and advance preclinical models for neuroblastoma to preselect favorable candidates for novel therapeutics. Here we propose the use of a new patient-derived 3D slice-culture perfusion-based 3D model in combination with rapid treatment evaluation using isothermal microcalorimetry exemplified with treatment with the novel carbonic anhydrase IX and XII (CAIX/CAXII) inhibitor SLC-0111. Patient samples showed a CAIX expression of 18% and a CAXII expression of 30%. Corresponding with their respective CAIX expression patterns, the viability of SH-EP cells was significantly reduced upon treatment with SLC-0111, while LAN1 cells were not affected. The inhibitory effect on SH-SY5Y cells was dependent on the induction of CAIX expression under hypoxia. These findings corresponded to thermogenesis of the cells. Patient-derived organotypic slice cultures were treated with SLC-0111, which was highly effective despite heterogeneity of CAIX/CAXII expression. Thermogenesis, in congruence with the findings of the histological observations, was significantly reduced in SLC-0111-treated samples. In order to extend the evaluation time, we established a perfusion-based approach for neuroblastoma tissue in a 3D perfusion-based bioreactor system. Using this system, excellent tissue quality with intact tumor cells and stromal structure in neuroblastoma tumors can be maintained for 7 days. The system was successfully used for consecutive drug response monitoring with isothermal microcalorimetry. The described approach for drug testing, relying on an advanced 3D culture system combined with a rapid and highly sensitive metabolic assessment, can facilitate development of personalized treatment strategies for neuroblastoma.