1. Use of an optimized primary ovarian cancer xenograft model to mimic patient tumor biology and heterogeneity
- Author
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Ashwini A. Katre, Michael G. Conner, Monjri Shah, Ronald D. Alvarez, Angela Ziebarth, Adam D. Steg, Zachary C. Dobbin, and Charles N. Landen
- Subjects
Cancer Research ,Oncology ,Response to therapy ,Tumor biology ,Homogeneous ,business.industry ,Transgene ,Cancer research ,medicine ,Ovarian cancer ,medicine.disease ,business - Abstract
5036 Background: Current xenograft and transgenic models of ovarian cancer are mainly homogeneous and poorly predict response to therapy. Use of patient tumors may represent a better model for tumor biology and offer potential to test personalized medicine approaches, but poor take rates and questions of recapitulation of patient tumors have limited this approach. We have developed a protocol for improved feasibility of such a model and examined its similarity to the patient tumor. Methods: Under IRB and IACUC approval, 23 metastatic ovarian cancer samples were collected at the time of tumor reductive surgery. Samples were implanted either subcutaneously (SQ), intraperitoneally (IP), in the mammary fat pad (MFP), or in the subrenal capsule (SRC) and monitored for tumor growth. Cohorts from 8 xenolines were treated with combined carboplatin and paclitaxel or vehicle, and response to therapy compared between xenografts and patients. Expression of tumor-initiating cell (TIC) markers ALDH1, CD133, and CD44 was assessed by immunohistochemistry in tumors from patients and treated and untreated xenografts. Results: At least one SQ implanted tumor developed in 91.3% of xenografts, significantly higher than in the MFP (63.6%), IP (23.5%), or SRC (8%). Xenografts were similar in expression of putative TIC’s compared to patient tumors. The patients and the xenografts also have similar responses to chemotherapy in that xenografts from patients with a partial response responded more slowly than those from patients achieving a complete response (45 vs 21 days, p=.004). Treated xenografts were more densely composed of TICs. ALDH1 increased to 36.1% from 16.2% (p=0.002) and CD133 increased to 33.8% from 16.2% (p=0.026). Conclusions: Xenoline development can be achieved at a high rate when tumors collected from metastatic sites are implanted SQ. These xenografts are similar to patient tumors with regard to chemotherapy response and TIC expression.. This model may be a more accurate model for in vivo pre-clinical studies as compared to current models. Also, as treated xenografts become chemoresistant, this model is well positioned to evaluate targeted therapies aimed at the most aggressive populations in a heterogeneous tumor.
- Published
- 2012
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