Human Head and Neck Circulating Tumor Cells - Patient-Derived Xenografts [PDX]

 

Celprogen defines patient-derived tumor grafts as explants established as models at low passage numbers (average mean of 6 passes removed from patient). They have not been grown in tissue culture nor propagated as cell cultures.

 

Establishing xenograft tumor models from patient-derived tumor tissue at low passage is believed to conserve original tumor characteristics such as heterogeneous histology, clinical biomolecule signature, malignant phenotypes and genotypes, tumor architecture and tumor vasculature. Based on this prevalent hypothesis, patient-derived tumor grafts are believed to offer relevant predictive insights into clinical outcomes when evaluating the efficacy of novel cancer therapies.

 

Our models are established by implanting tissue obtained from clinical centers in the United States into mice. After a minimal number of passages through SCID and nude mice, the models are banked and then profiled. 

 

We continuously update our comprehensive tumor model database to:

 

1.  guide tumor model selection

 

2.  support the understanding of the basis of tumor sensitivity to particular anticancer agents

 

3.  accelerate identification of potential biomarkers

 

We investigate the following characterization criteria for our PDX models:

 

1.  clinical background data (e.g. previous therapy, primary/metastatic tumor, age and gender of patient)

 

2.  tumor characteristics (e.g. time from implantation to therapy start, doubling times, special characteristics such as induction of cachexia)

 

3.  sensitivity against standard of care anticancer drugs in 2D, 3D and in vivo assays

 

4.  molecular characterization: whole exome sequencing, analysis of gene expression (PCR, qRT-PCR), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), copy number variation, mutation profiles, protein expression (IHC, ELISA, Western blotting).