Fig. 2

Growth progression and growth kinetics of simultaneously seeded mono and co-cultured spheroids. (A) Schematic creation of the co-cultivated spheroids, including tumour cells and human fibroblasts. Spheroids were cultured in mono-culture and in co-culture with ovarian cancer cells (OC) and different cell numbers of fibroblasts (fibr.). OvCar8 and Detroit 551 cells, A2780 and Detroit 551 cells were seeded stained or unstained simultaneously into ULA plate and grown for 96 h. After 96 h of growth, different read outs were performed. (B) Representative microscopic images of monocellular and co-cultivated spheroids after 96 h of growth. Scale bar 500 μm. (C) Quantitative differences in the size of spheroids after 96 h. Data in floating bar plot (line at mean), one-way ANOVA, ** (p < 0.01), *** (p < 0.001), **** (p < 0.0001). (D) Quantitative differences in the compactness of spheroids after 96 h. Data in floating bar plot (line at mean), one-way ANOVA, ** (p < 0.01), **** (p < 0.0001). (E-H) Growth over time. Representative images of OvCar8 (E) and A2780 (G) mono-cultured and co-cultured spheroids with fibroblast. Scale bar 500 μm. Quantification of spheroid size over time of OvCar8 (F) and A780 (H) monocellular and co-cultivated spheroids. Data are means ± SD, N = 3.