# Protocol to establish glioma stem cell spheroids and an enriched cancer-associated fibroblast population from a single patient tumor specimen

**Authors:** Caroline Delmas, Elisabeth Cohen-Jonathan-Moyal, Catherine Seva

PMC · DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2026.104359 · STAR Protocols · 2026-02-19

## TL;DR

This paper describes a protocol to isolate glioblastoma stem cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts from a single patient tumor sample.

## Contribution

A standardized protocol for simultaneously isolating glioblastoma stem cell spheroids and enriched cancer-associated fibroblasts from a single patient specimen.

## Key findings

- Steps for tumor dissociation and generation of glioblastoma stem cell spheroids and CAF cultures are detailed.
- A procedure for CAF enrichment, passaging, characterization, and cryopreservation is provided.

## Abstract

Glioblastoma is an aggressive, therapy-resistant brain tumor in which the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) remains poorly defined. We present a protocol to simultaneously establish glioblastoma stem cell (GSCs) spheroids and CAFs from a single patient specimen. We describe steps to dissociate tumor tissue, generate a single-cell suspension, and establish GSCs spheroids and CAFs cultures. This protocol details CAFs enrichment, passaging, phenotypic characterization, and cryopreservation.

For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Delmas et al.1

•Standardized protocol to isolate GSC spheroids and enriched CAFs from single GBM sample•Steps for tumor dissociation and generation of GSC spheroids and CAF cultures•Procedure for CAF enrichment, passaging, characterization, and cryopreservation•Procedure for GSC culture, passaging, characterization, and cryopreservation

Standardized protocol to isolate GSC spheroids and enriched CAFs from single GBM sample

Steps for tumor dissociation and generation of GSC spheroids and CAF cultures

Procedure for CAF enrichment, passaging, characterization, and cryopreservation

Procedure for GSC culture, passaging, characterization, and cryopreservation

Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Glioblastoma is an aggressive, therapy-resistant brain tumor in which the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) remains poorly defined. We present a protocol to simultaneously establish glioblastoma stem cell (GSCs) spheroids and CAFs from a single patient specimen. We describe steps to dissociate tumor tissue, generate a single-cell suspension, and establish GSC spheroids and CAF cultures. This protocol details CAF enrichment, passaging, phenotypic characterization, and cryopreservation.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** Glioblastoma (MONDO:0018177)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** FAP (fibroblast activation protein alpha) [NCBI Gene 2191] {aka DPPIV, FAPA, FAPalpha, SIMP}, ACTA2 (actin alpha 2, smooth muscle) [NCBI Gene 59] {aka ACTSA, SMDYS}, ITGA6 (integrin subunit alpha 6) [NCBI Gene 3655] {aka CD49f, ITGA6A, ITGA6B, JEB6, VLA-6}, AIF1 (allograft inflammatory factor 1) [NCBI Gene 199] {aka AIF-1, IBA1, IRT-1, IRT1}, EPCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule) [NCBI Gene 4072] {aka Ber-Ep4, BerEp4, DIAR5, EGP-2, EGP314, EGP40}, EGF (epidermal growth factor) [NCBI Gene 1950] {aka HOMG4, URG}, PDGFRA (platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha) [NCBI Gene 5156] {aka CD140A, PDGFR-2, PDGFR2}, SOX2 (SRY-box transcription factor 2) [NCBI Gene 6657] {aka ANOP3, MCOPS3}, PTPRC (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C) [NCBI Gene 5788] {aka B220, CD45, CD45R, GP180, IMD105, L-CA}, LOXL2 (lysyl oxidase like 2) [NCBI Gene 4017] {aka LOR, LOR2, WS9-14}, CAV1 (caveolin 1) [NCBI Gene 857] {aka BSCL3, CGL3, LCCNS, MSTP085, PPH3, VIP21}, OLIG2 (oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2) [NCBI Gene 10215] {aka BHLHB1, OLIGO2, PRKCBP2, RACK17, bHLHe19}, GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) [NCBI Gene 2670] {aka ALXDRD}, COL1A1 (collagen type I alpha 1 chain) [NCBI Gene 1277] {aka CAFYD, EDSARTH1, EDSC, OI1, OI2, OI3}, MRAP (melanocortin 2 receptor accessory protein) [NCBI Gene 56246] {aka B27, C21orf61, FALP, GCCD2, MRAP1}, PECAM1 (platelet and endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1) [NCBI Gene 5175] {aka CD31, CD31/EndoCAM, GPIIA', PECA1, PECAM-1, endoCAM}, VIM (vimentin) [NCBI Gene 7431]
- **Diseases:** necrotic (MESH:D009336), brain tumor (MESH:D001932), GSCs (MESH:D005909), GBM (MESH:D005910), CAFs (MESH:D009369)
- **Chemicals:** CO2 (MESH:D002245), PBS (MESH:D007854), dapi (MESH:C007293), DMSO (MESH:D004121), Cy3 (-), penicillin (MESH:D010406), EDTA (MESH:D004492), N2 (MESH:D009584), streptomycin (MESH:D013307)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Mutations:** C-25 C

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12934319/full.md

## Figures

6 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12934319/full.md

## References

6 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12934319/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12934319