LU 2023-082
INVENTORS
Xiaonan Li*
Milagros Suarez
Palacios Yuchen Du
SHORT DESCRIPTION
Location-matched growth media formulations in brain tumor organoid models for biological and therapeutic applications
BACKGROUND
Brain cancer is the second most common type of childhood malignancy and the leading cause of death in children. Despite recent advances in diagnostic strategies, surgical techniques, and chemo- and radio-therapeutic strategies, survival in malignant pediatric brain tumors remains dismal; further, many surviving children face long-term cognitive or neuroendocrine defecits. To improve survival via advanced therapeutic strategies, biologically accurate in vitro brain tumor models are needed. 3D organoids, which include tumor cells, healthy brain cells, and immune cells, can serve as an in vitro model system for brain tumors. However, many pediatric brain tumors cannot form organoids due to a lack of distinct growth stimuli needed to cause proliferation. Advances which help expedite the translation of organoids into the clinic are urgently needed.
ABSTRACT
Northwestern researchers have developed a novel set of growth media formulations to aid in the development of pediatric brain tumor organoids. Because tumor microenvironment and brain development stage impact tumor growth, a one-size- fits-all growth media is insufficient to form brain tumor organoids in the majority of cases. The novel growth media formulations advance current standard media by integrating region-specific growth factor combinations tailored to the area of tumor development representing cerebral, cerebellar, and brainstem tumor growth. Researchers find the region-specific growth media to have a 95% success rate for organoid formation in nearly all types of pediatric brain tumors, suggesting its potential for personalized tumor biology research and improved in vitro preclinical drug discovery models.
APPLICATIONS
Organoids for in vitro tumor biology studies, drug screening, and other drug discovery efforts
Scalable and automation-friendly suspension culture workflows
ADVANTAGES
Location-specific media formulations to meet growth needs of tumors originating from various brain locations
Increased efficiency of organoid formation ~95% (compared to <50% with generic growth media)
Supportive of long-term expansion and maintenance of donor tissue characteristics, including mutational profiles and gene expression patterns.
Adaptable for different types of brain cancers and brain regions through additional tissue-specific growth factors.
Cost-effective and simplified option for routine organoid culture.
Compatible with dissociated tumor cells, autopsy patient samples, patient-derived xenograft cells and cell lines.
IP STATUS
US patent application filed.
Cerebral, cerebellar, and brainstem brain tumor organoids grown from human brain tumors at a 50- 100% success rate using location-specific growth media.