In vitro characterization of human brain tumor "stem" cells: A lineage centric approach to phenotype characterization using multi-generation live cell imaging and tracking

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The goal of this collaborative project is the development of novel and potentially high impact methods for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy planning in cancer - the end user of our research outcomes will be the clinical oncologist. We will achieve this goal by synergistically combining two recent conceptual advancements in medicine and engineering: the cancer stem cell hypothesis and the development of lineage informatics for in vitro clonal lineage tracking and analysis. Sophisticated robotic microscopes and informatics software developed in the laboratory of Jervis will be used to investigate the lineage tree structure and dynamic phenotype trajectories of human tumor stem cell lines and primary cells derived from tumor biopsy samples. The human cell lines have already received significant in vivo analysis in mouse models, so the tumor initiating properties of these cell lines in well defined. Correlation and pattern recognition analysis will be used to develop classification schemes for observed lineage trees and phenotypes with respect to in vivo mouse experiments and final disposition of the original tumor cell source patient.