Comparative Analysis of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) Cultures in Two Dimensions Using 13C NMR Spectroscopy

Three-dimensional (3D) spheroid models are an emerging technique for studying tumors, as this method of culturing closely mimics in vivo development compared to conventional two -dimensional (2D) cultures. The spheroids are cultured using the hanging drop method, where cells suspended in media droplets aggregate into a single spherical mass due to gravity. In this project, two ccRCC cell lines, 786-0 and Caki-1, are cultured in both dimensions and analyzed using ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. As 3D models are still under development, the goal of these experiments is to optimize the ccRCC cell lines for spheroid formation and compare the known metabolic pathways between the two dimensions. The results of this experiment aim to demonstrate how 3D cultures preserve tumor morphology, thereby yielding more physiologically relevant data regarding cell-to-cell communication and extracellular interactions.