Cancer Stem Cell Research CRO
ReachBio has an in-depth understanding of primary blood and bone marrow progenitor cell assays and a drive to help our CRO service clients answer important preclinical questions about their drug compound candidates. We provide both products and lab services for cancer stem cell research.
Efficacy and toxicity challenges in drug development for hematological malignancies include the ability to target and kill cancer cells while minimizing off-target deleterious consequences to normally developing blood cells. We can help address efficacy and toxicity questions by utilizing hematopoietic progenitor colony forming cell (CFC) assays in two different ways, both of which are applicable to small molecules and biologics.
Efficacy: CFC Assays to Assess Compound-Induced Blood Cancer Stem Cell Killing
These assays are performed using bone marrow cells from patients with hematological malignancies, including leukemia (AML, ALL, CML, CLL), multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and polycythemia vera.
Cells from diseased bone marrow are incubated with and without drug compounds in a semi-solid methylcellulose-based matrix containing specific growth factors. Cell colonies are formed from bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells and inhibitory effects of test compounds on abnormal (cancer) cell colony formation are assessed. Drug compounds may be tested individually or in combination studies. Click to Read More
Off-Target Drug Toxicity: CFC Assays to Assess Anemia and Neutropenia
Toxicity to normal blood cell development is assessed by incubating test compounds with normal bone marrow cells in a methylcellulose-based matrix containing specific growth factors that support hematopoietic progenitor cell growth and evaluation. Changes to the expected numbers of myeloid and erythroid colonies that develop from the progenitors, relative to controls, as well as changes to colony morphology, are assessed. Drugs can be assessed individually or in combination studies. Our CFC assays have correlated with outcomes seen in the clinic. Click to Read More
