In vitro 3D spheroid culture system displays sustained T cell-dependent CLL proliferation and survival

Researchers developed a "3D in vitro culture system using unltra-low attachment plates to create spheroids of CLL cells derived from peripheral blood," which serves, in essence, to be the first lymph-node mimicking in vitro 3D culture for primary CLL. Using samples of CLL-positive lymph nodes, CLL:T cell ratios were observed, and CLL activation was noted to be induced by either direct stimulation and/or indirectly via T cells. Researchers used the model to enable high-throughput drug screening, and they describe response to BTK inhibition, venetoclax resistance, and T cell-mediated cytotoxicity as examples.