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Delivering Deep Insights and Precise Measurements

Using a variety of high-resolution preclinical imaging technologies and many types of endpoint analyses, Certis can interrogate disease progression and drug response from different angles. Whether you seek to evaluate mechanisms of action (MOA), identify potential adverse effects, or simply gather pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data, Certis offers the analytical horsepower to deliver reliable IND-enabling study data for your investigational compound.

In addition to bringing an impressive level of certainty to study results, in-house imaging can substantially reduce the number of animals required to conduct a study.

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Multi-Modality Imaging to Evaluate Tumor Growth

Certis employs luciferase-expressing and fluorescent cell lines and patient-derived xenograft orthotopic models in combination with mouse MRI to correlate flux units with tumor volume calculations.

Addressing complex questions with multi-modal analyses

Using a variety of advanced imaging and analytical technologies, Certis can provide a variety of endpoints, including:

  • Tumor volume calculations over time compared to control group
  • Growth curves
  • PK/PD sampling and analysis
  • Biomarker analysis
  • Immune cell characterization by flow cytometry
  • Toxicity
  • ADME
  • Overall survival and disease-free survival (Kaplan Meier Curves)
  • Necropsy analysis of metastasis
  • Cell population characterization
  • Phenotypic analysis
  • Histological analysis and enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA)

Common pharmacological endpoint analysis includes Homogeneous Time-Resolved Fluorescence (HTRF), Meso Scale Discovery (MSD®), spectral flow cytometry for analyzing cell subpopulations in blood (on study) and/or post-takedown in other tissues.

Precisely Measure Tumor Volume

Certis owns two murine-scale MRIs custom-designed for us by Aspect Imaging. This advanced preclinical imaging technology allows us to measure tumor volume in situ, and non-invasively assess anti-cancer activity in patient-derived xenograft orthotopic models.

Quantifying Tumor Volume In Situ

Although tumor volume calculation by calipers is common in cancer research, this manual tumor volume measurement (TVM) technique is inherently prone to variability — inconsistencies introduced by analyst technique and skill that can dramatically influence scientific conclusions.12 At Certis, we believe fighting cancer warrants far greater precision.

Unlike many preclinical oncology CROs, Certis studies tumor response in real-time — quantitatively, repeatedly, without interfering with the tumor microenvironment or biological processes under study. With mouse MRI technology, we can provide high-resolution, 3D whole-body morphological imaging of every animal on study over time to deliver quantitative TVM with unparalleled precision.

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Mouse MRI Measures Liver Metastasis

Whole mouse imaging shows multiple metastases in the liver. Certis pairs MRI imaging with advanced imaging software to deliver precise, quantitative TVM.

Tracking Tumor Burden

Luciferase bioluminescence imaging and fluorescence imaging are highly sensitive optical imaging techniques that enable efficient and noninvasive ways to localize tumors, quantify tumor growth and metastasis, and monitor tumor response over time. These techniques also may be used for higher-throughput screening, as they allow for rapid and sensitive detection of analytes on multiple animals simultaneously.

An integrated 3D tomography module allows both bioluminescence and fluorescence signals to be reconstructed in 3D and overlaid within a topographical model of the imaging subject. For better understanding of anatomical and deeper tissue structures, the digital organ library allows for superimposition of the mouse organs and bones onto the topographical model.

Luciferase Bioluminescence Imaging

Our Vilber NEWTON 7.0 accommodates 8 excitation channels in the Visible (RGB) and Near-Infrared (NIR) spectrums. Signals can be overlaid so that several reporters can be visualized simultaneously in the same animal. A large number of molecular reagents and fluorophores are available.

Sensitivity, Accuracy, and Economic Efficiency

MSD is a key biomarker detection methodology that has a higher sensitivity and wider dynamic range compared to other biomarker assay in vitro platforms such as ELISA.

MSD Biomarker Assay

Multiplexing using the MSD® MESO® QuickPlex® SQ 120 enables the measurement of native levels of biomarkers in normal and diseased samples without multiple dilutions.

Visualizing and Confirming

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) uses antibody specificity to detect target molecules in cells and tissues. Commonly used as a diagnostic tool to classify tumors according to biomarker expression, IHC also serves as a complementary readout for drug efficacy studies. Certis services include paraffin embedding, conventional to complex immunohistochemical staining, protocol optimization, custom biomarker development, and digital slide-scanning.

    • H&E (Hemotoxylin and Eosin) to uncover subcellular structural and biochemical components in cell lines or PDX tumors.
    • Ki-67 protein proliferation marker to determine cellular proliferation and risk of recurrence for certain tumor samples or cell lines.
    • Custom antibody optimization/protocol transfer. Have a proprietary antibody for your in-house immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays? Transfer the assay to our scientific team to optimize your protocol.

Comprehensive Histology and IHC Services

Cellular analysis with 3DHISTECH™ PANNORAMIC SCAN II. Ask us which IHC markers and antibodies will be most effective for your preclinical studies today.

65+ IHC-Validated Antibodies

Visualize the expression and locale of proteins within tissues with 65+ IHC-validated antibodies. In the CLIA-certified laboratory, Certis scientists block, cut, stain, and image slides or TMA. DOWNLOAD DATA PACK

A-C
C
E-G
H-M
M-P
P-T
T-W
Alk
CD34 (QBEnd/10)
EGFR Viii
HER-2/G20586
MUC13 (E6Z1K)
PDL-1 (E1L3N)
TTF1
Anti-ATM (Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene)
CD4 Ab-8
EpCAM
HLA-1  ABC
Nectin 4
Progesterone Receptor (PR)
VEGF
Anti-Met (C-Met) [CAL12]
CD68
ErbB3/Her-3, [SP71]
Human Gangliosides (GD2) (14.G2a)
NMDAR1
PSMAD3 (Phospho S423 + S425)
Vimentin
Anti-p-Rb-Ser807/811 Antibody, Rabbit Monoclonal
CD8 Ab-1
ERG [EPR3864]
Human Nucleoli
NY-ESO-1
Rabbit anti-human NCAM1 [EPR2566] (CD56)
WT-1
BRST2/GCDFP-15
CDX2 [CDX2/1690]
Estrogen receptor Alpha (ER)
GF1 Receptor (Phospho Y1161)
P16
Rabbit monoclonal [SP71], ErbB3/Her-3
αSMA (Alpha Smooth Muscle Actin)
CAMTA1
Chromogranin-A [CHGA/1731R]
FAP-Alpha [EPR20021]
IL13 RA2/CD21342 (E7U78)
P40
Recombinant anti-Rb (phospho T821) [RP23040072]
CD11c
CK19
FoxP3
Interferon gamma (IFNG) [IFNG/3996R]
P63 [TP63/2428]
ROR-1
CD206/MRC1 (E6T5J)
CK20
GATTA3
Ki67
Pan Cytokeratin (AE1/AE3)
SOX-10
CD3
CK5/6
GFAP
Liv-1/ZIP6
Pan Lymphoma cocktail (LCA + CD20 + CD3 + CD43)
Synaptophysin (SYP/3551)
CD31 (PECAM-1), (Rabbit)
CK7
Granzyme B
Mesothelin (D9R5G) XP
PAX8
TCF1/TCF7
CD31, (Mouse)
Cleaved Caspase-3
GRPR (Gastric Releasing peptide Receptor)
Mouse anti-Desmin
PD-1 EPR4877(2)
Trop 2

Accelerate Your Antibody Discoveries

See if your target of interest is ready to go with a strategic histology partner.  Ask us about custom antibody validation for detecting a novel biomarker or target. 

Detecting and Quantifying Antibodies

HTRF for High-Throughput Screening. Homogeneous Time-Resolved Fluorescence (HTRF) is used for the detection and quantification of specific antibodies and other biomarkers. It combines fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology with time-resolved (TR) measurement to be an ideal platform for drug target studies used in high-throughput methods.

ELISA and High-Performance ECL for Detection and Quantification

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a binding, plate-based biochemical assay technique often used to detect and quantify peptides, key protein biomarkers, glycoproteins, enzyme-conjugated antibodies and hormones. Certis offers a 96-well format. Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) can measure normal and elevated levels of analytes within the same sample while delivering higher sensitivity than traditional ELISA.34 It tolerates an array of complex biological matrices including serum, plasma, tissue culture media and accurately detects specific analyte levels in small sample volumes. Talk to us about custom multiplex panel design and validation.

Simultaneous Multiparametric Analysis

Spectral flow cytometry enables high-throughput, comprehensive phenotypic and functional characterization of heterogenous cell populations using fluid dynamics. Full spectrum flow cytometry offers many advantages over traditional methods, including higher sensitivity for detection of low-expressed antigens, minimal need for compensation and up to 24 fluorophores for multiplexing.12 Certis offers in-house flow cytometry expertise and custom panel design and validation.

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The Power of Spectral Flow Cytometry

Immune cells in human peripheral blood are identified by tSNE analysis using a 15 color panel. The Cytek™ Aurora Spectral Cytometer (3 lasers, 38 detectors) has powerful analysis and data visualization capacity. Save time with comprehensive visualizations.

Live Cell Imaging & Analysis

With IncuCyte® live cell imaging and analysis, Certis can capture cellular changes and data as they happen in real-time over hours, days, or weeks. This non-invasive in vitro technology facilitates investigation of many hallmarks of cancer, including:

  1. Selective Proliferative Advantage: Interrogate cancer stem cell signaling pathways, and spatial distribution with cell growth and proliferation assays.
  2. Altered Stress Response: Investigate excessive signaling, DNA damage, hypoxia and nutrient starvation with proliferation, cell health, and apoptosis assays.
  3. Vascularization: Dissect cell proliferation, clustering, and differentiation
  4. Invasion and Metastasis: Dissect sequential steps of metastasis with ‘scratch wound’ migration and invasion assays, chemotaxis assays, and growth and colonization studies.
  5. Metabolic Rewiring: Characterize aberrant metabolic activity to gain insights into tumor progression, invasion, chemoresistance and identify new therapeutic targets.
  6. Immune Modulation: Observe the dynamic interactions between immune and cancer cells with 3D immune cell-killing assays, antibody internalization, phagocytosis, and immunocytochemistry.
  7. An Abetting Tumor Microenvironment: Gain insights into dynamic changes with co-culture invasion assays.

IncuCyte Live Cell Imaging Analysis Time-Lapse Video

Seen here is a Cytolight Green Lentivirus (LV) expression during puromycin selection in transduced glioblastoma cells from a PDX-derived cell culture (Model CRT00433 available in the BarneyOI Cancer Model Database®, at an MOI of 3 for 12h, 24h, or 48h. Cytolight LV allows the non-perturbing labeling of target cells with homogenous expression of cytoplasmic GFP.

Preclinical Imaging and Endpoints: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

How long will Certis store my samples after the study ends?

Will Certis send my end-of-study samples to my collaborator directly?

Will Certis tag my cell line for me?

Will Certis perform protein expression analyses?

Can Certis send study updates directly to my company’s secure database?

Can I screen models in vitro before choosing a model for my in vivo study?

Does Certis formulate mouse-scale drug doses in-house?

Will Certis perform histology scoring on-site?

Does Certis have commercial cell lines?

Does Certis perform histology in-house?

Does Certis perform preclinical studies with syngeneic mouse models?

Can I customize how long my drug efficacy study is run?

Is a study report included in each study?

What is the difference between spectral flow cytometry and traditional flow cytometry?

What types of preclinical imaging does Certis offer?

What types of endpoints are available for my study?

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