Confocal Imaging for Oncology Research
Authors: John Rauch, Jasmine Trigg, Kirsty McBain, Jonathan Bezenah, Libuse Oupicka, Richard Lister, Laura Skerlos | Last Updated: April 2026
Poster Overview
This poster demonstrates how confocal live‑cell imaging with the Incucyte® CX3 enhances the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and toxicity in advanced oncology models. Using solid tumor spheroids, organoids, and immune–cancer cocultures, the workflow delivers high‑resolution, kinetic insights into drug responses, apoptotic activity, and immune‑mediated killing.
Compared to brightfield imaging, confocal fluorescence provides more sensitive and specific toxicity detection, supporting clearer interpretation of compound effects. Together, these capabilities enable more predictive, physiologically relevant assessment of anticancer therapies and mechanistic insights across complex 3D biological systems.
Resource Details:
- Document Type: Poster
- Page Count: 1 page
- Read Time: 5 minutes
Key Takeaways
- The Incucyte® CX3 enables multiplane confocal imaging of tumor spheroids and organoids, delivering clearer insights into therapeutic efficacy and off‑target toxicity. Integrated analysis tools further streamline compound evaluation.
- Confocal fluorescence imaging offers more sensitive toxicity detection than brightfield, using markers to distinguish debris from healthy organoids—crucial for assessing chemotherapeutic hepatotoxicity.
- Using solid tumor models and organoids, compounds such as camptothecin and cisplatin showed concentration‑dependent reductions in spheroid growth and increased apoptosis, demonstrating their cytotoxic impact.
- Immune–cancer coculture studies showed activated PBMCs inducing density‑dependent tumor killing in SKOV‑3 spheroids, highlighting confocal live‑cell imaging as a powerful tool for immuno‑oncology research.