Abstract 2516: Analysis of CLL Celllular Environment and Response (ACCER) is a novel method to understand the microenvironment in CLL

Abstract Microenvironments such as lymph nodes and bone marrow allow chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells to survive after drug treatments. There are limited methods to study the to study the contribution of the microenvironment. We have adapted a solid tumour microenvironment cell culture system that provides elements of the CLL microenvironment called Analysis of CLL Cellular Environment and Response (ACCER). We optimized the cell number for patient’s primary CLL cells and HS-5 human bone marrow stromal cell line that will give sufficient cell number and viability with the ACCER. We then determined the amount of collagen type 1 to give the best extracellular matrix to seed CLL cells to the membrane. Finally, we determined that ACCER provide CLL cell protection against cell death following treatment with fludarabine and ibrutinib compared to co-culture conditions. This describes novel microenvironment model to investigate factors that promote drug resistance and cell survival in CLL. In the future, this will further validate new treatment strategies to overcome microenvironmental CLL cell survival signals. Citation Format: Spencer Gibson, Tricia Choquette, Elizabeth S. Henson, Xioyan Yang, James B. Johnston. Analysis of CLL Celllular Environment and Response (ACCER) is a novel method to understand the microenvironment in CLL [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2516.