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Table 2 Comparison of methods for isolation and enrichment of cancer stem-like cells

From: Development of a novel and economical agar-based non-adherent three-dimensional culture method for enrichment of cancer stem-like cells

Methods

Cost

Time of operation

Advantages

Disadvantages

Agar-based non-adherent 3D culture

Very low

<2 h

Simple procedure; reusable

Freshly prepared required

3D culture in commercial ultra-low attachment dishes

High

None

Ready to use; long-time storage

Not reusable

Poly-HEMA–based non-adherent 3D culture

Low

>8 h

Long-time storage

Complicated preparation procedure, not reusable

Antibody-based FACS and MACS

High

>3 h

High-quality cancer stem-like cells

Markers are cell type–dependent, complicated procedure

Scaffold-supported 3D culture (for example, Matrigel)

High

>2 h

Microenvironment mimicking

Potential differentiation-induced, temperature-sensitive solidification

Side population sorting

Medium

>3 h

Functional relevant

Inconsistent results

  1. Abbreviations: 3D three-dimensional, FACS fluorescence-activated cell sorting, MACS magnetic-activated cell sorting, poly-HEMA poly-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate