Elucidating drug resistance properties in scarce cancer stem cells using droplet microarray

SummaryThe screening and characterization of cancer stem cells (CSCs) has been challenging due to sample scarcity. We have developed a miniaturized high-content screening (HCS) assay platform to study intra-cellular proteins related to the survival and apoptosis of CSCs with chemotherapeutic treatment. By overcoming critical bottlenecks associated with sample scarcity, we are able to elucidate the drug responses of the side-population (SP) phenotype characteristics of CSCs. This successful miniaturization of HCS assays facilitates the development of cancer drug treatments, and paves the way for nanoliter volume manipulation for cell-based studies and screening.

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► We have developed miniaturized rinsing assays termed droplet microarray to enable high-content screening of scarce cells.
► The miniaturized cell-based assays were successfully applied to study the drug response of cancer stem cells (CSCs).
► The side-population phenotypes enriched from liver, colon and breast cancer cells showed CSC properties.
► The scarce CSCs were demonstrated to be much more resilient to chemotherapy as compared to their parent cancer cells.