Abstract 1430: Automation of both sample preparation and analysis of a cell migration assay

Abstract

Abstract Cell migration is a critical event in the process of angiogenesis. Aberrant cell migration can contribute to metastatic cancer and other diseases. Understanding the signaling pathways involved in regulating migration is crucial for discovering new targets to develop drugs that inhibit migration and angiogenesis. Because cell migration is a phenotypic or whole-cell event, it can be challenging to conduct and quantitatively analyze such cell-based assays in a consistent and efficient manner. Automation of such assays allows researchers to analyze more conditions than would be feasible with manual methods. With advances in migration plate technology and automated liquid handling, it is now possible to increase one's capacity to run these important assays. However, liquid handling automation parameters are critical and must be optimized so as not to interfere with the biology or its analysis. Here we demonstrate a successful automation of the sample preparation the Platypus Oris® Pro 384-Well Cell Migration Assay on a PerkinElmer JANUS® Automated Liquid Handling Workstation. In addition, quantitation of such assays is now possible with multi-mode detection and High Content Screening (HCS) technologies. Analysis of cell migration using the Operetta® / Harmony® HCS platform and the EnSpire™ multilabel plate reader shows the assay to be a robust and reproducible quantification of cell motility. Using these methods the authors demonstrate statistically significant inhibition of this phenotypic cellular process by a variety of compounds, including cytochalasin D and the MEK inhibitor U0126. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1430. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1430