Research Highlights
VitroGel®-Enhanced 3D Culture Models Reveal the Potential of Basroparib in Overcoming MEK Inhibitor Resistance in KRAS-Mutated Colorectal Cancer
VitroGel® supports 3D spheroid models for evaluating basroparib’s efficacy in overcoming MEK inhibitor resistance in KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer.
Category:
Cell Models | Functional Assays
Subcategory/cell type:
In vitro models
Team:
Young-Ju Kwon, Dong Young Kim, Uk-Il Kim, Song Hyun Kim, Ye-hyun Kim, Kyungjin Kim, Jae-Sung Kim
Institutions:
- Division of Radiation Biomedical Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Radiological and Medico-Oncological Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- ST Pharm Co., Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea
Hydrogel:
VitroGel® 3D (Cat. No: TWG001)
The study on basroparib’s role in overcoming MEK inhibitor resistance in KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer (CRC) highlights the importance of innovative in vitro models that accurately recapitulate tumor microenvironments. Using VitroGel, a versatile, xeno-free, and biologically relevant hydrogel, researchers were able to establish three-dimensional (3D) spheroid models that better mimic in vivo tumor behavior compared to traditional 2D cultures. This provided a more physiologically relevant platform to evaluate the synergistic effects of basroparib and trametinib, particularly in KRAS-G12V and KRAS-G12D mutant cells.
VitroGel® facilitated the formation of robust and reproducible CRC spheroids, maintaining cellular interactions and supporting long-term drug exposure studies. This allowed the researchers to observe key mechanisms of resistance, such as the activation of Wnt-mediated cancer stemness, and to evaluate the impact of dual inhibition strategies. Notably, the combination of basroparib and trametinib significantly reduced spheroid growth, reinforcing the potential of tankyrase inhibition in overcoming drug resistance. The use of VitroGel® provided a reliable, scalable system to validate these findings before transitioning to in vivo models.
The incorporation of VitroGel® in this research underscores its value in advancing CRC drug development by offering a reproducible, clinically relevant culture system. By providing a tunable extracellular matrix that supports cell proliferation and differentiation, VitroGel® enhances the translational potential of preclinical studies. These findings not only validate the efficacy of the basroparib-trametinib combination but also demonstrate how biomimetic 3D culture systems like VitroGel® are essential for improving therapeutic research in KRAS-mutated cancers.
