Abstract: A microscope image of a cultured cell cluster derived from a cancer specimen of a patient is acquired. A measured value of a gene expression level of the cluster is acquired. Based on the image, a morphological representation identifiably expressing, by a vector quantity of a plurality of dimensions, a morphological difference between a group of cell clusters cultured from the same cancer specimen and a group of cell clusters cultured from another cancer specimen is acquired. The acquired morphological representation is input to a function, which is obtained by fitting the measured value with respect to the morphological representation, to acquire a prediction value of the gene expression level. Prediction accuracy is estimated based on the prediction value and the measured value. Based on the estimated prediction accuracy, a gene related to a morphological change of the cell cluster is extracted as a gene candidate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for evaluating a protrusion-forming ability of cell spheroids, comprising step (a) of imaging a cell spheroid labeled with a fluorescent substance using a fluorescence microscope at a resolution capable of identifying individual cells, and acquiring a plane tomographic image of a fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance, step (b) of analyzing the plane tomographic image acquired in step (a) to determine a protrusion part of the cell spheroid, and step (c) of evaluating a protrusion-forming ability of the cell spheroid based on the protrusion part determined in step (b).

Abstract: Provided is a sample observation method including: bringing a gel-like transparent sample that encloses an observation target into contact with a transparent flat surface section of a substrate; and collecting light from the observation target by means of an objective lens via the substrate, in a state in which a pressing force is made to act in a direction in which the sample and the flat surface section relatively approach each other, until the contact area between the sample and the flat surface section comes to have a size allowing an effective light flux for the objective lens of a microscope to pass therethrough.

Abstract: Provided is a sample observation method including: bringing a gel-like transparent sample that encloses an observation target into contact with a transparent flat surface section of a substrate; and collecting light from the observation target by means of an objective lens via the substrate, in a state in which a pressing force is made to act in a direction in which the sample and the flat surface section relatively approach each other, until the contact area between the sample and the flat surface section comes to have a size allowing an effective light flux for the objective lens of a microscope to pass therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for evaluating a protrusion-forming ability of cell spheroids, comprising step (a) of imaging a cell spheroid labeled with a fluorescent substance using a fluorescence microscope at a resolution capable of identifying individual cells, and acquiring a plane tomographic image of a fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance, step (b) of analyzing the plane tomographic image acquired in step (a) to determine a protrusion part of the cell spheroid, and step (c) of evaluating a protrusion-forming ability of the cell spheroid based on the protrusion part determined in step (b).