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Tumor Collection

Your Benefit

The unique ONCOTEST tumor collection consists of more than 200 patient-derived tumor models of most solid tumor histotypes. In contrast to cell line-derived xenografts, ONCOTEST has always implanted the patient tumors subcutaneously in immunodeficient mice, and passaged them as tumor fragments. Master stocks of early tumor passages in liquid nitrogen guarantee a long-time supply of patient-derived material. At ONCOTEST, in general tumors not exceeding 15 passages are used for in vivo testing.

patientderivedpatient-derived vs. cell line-derived model

Comprehensive profiling: ONCOTEST’s tumor collection is well characterized with regard to

a) Patient characteristics, including pretreatment, staging and histology, age, gender, differentiation.

b) Chemosensitivity data collected in a proprietary database including in vitro and in vivo data to many standard-of-care (SOC) cancer drugs. As an example, more than 1200 in vivo data sets are currently available that allow to select the best model for in vivo testing, either for monotherapy or for combination therapy in order to identify advantages over already marketed or competitor drugs.

c) Molecular biology and proteomic data (Affymetrix gene array analysis, bead suspension assay, exon sequencing to identify mutations) allows to customize tumor panels based on a target- or pathway-oriented approach.

d) Comprehensive sample repository with material of the ONCOTEST tumor and cell line collection is made available as frozen tumor tissue, protein lysates, serum from tumor bearing mice, purified DNA or RNA, tissue micro arrays and as formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) slides or blocks for immunohistochemistry.

Predictivity: In contrast to other service providers using cell line-derived xenografts, ONCOTEST’s patient-derived tumor collection has maintained the patient tumor features (tumor architecture, heterogeneous histology, vasculature and central necrosis). Pathophysiologically relevant molecular alterations and chemosensitivity are retained making these models highly predictive for the clinical situation.

histological differences between patient and cell line derived colon cancer xenografts

Diversity

Up until Sept. 2009, more than 2000 tumor samples from cancer patients had been implanted subcutaneously in immuno-compromised nude mice. Based on take rate and growth behavior, the most suitable 200 tumor models were selected and are available for compound testing, among them about 40 models from which respective cell lines have been established. We are continuously collaborating with hospitals and clinicians to enlarge our collection regarding under-represented histologies, niche tumors and specific ethnicities (e.g. tumor samples from Asia).
(Status as of Sept. 2009; detailed updated information available upon request.)

Predictivity for the Clinic: Evidences

The clinical relevance of ONCOTEST‘s patient-derived tumor models was assessed by testing 80 selected models with the same drug and regimen that had been used for treating the cancer patient. In 19 of 21 cases where patients showed a remission, the same tumor also went into remission in the nude mouse, corresponding to a correct predictive value for remission of 90%. In 57 of 59 cases, patient tumors showed tumor progression and the same result was observed in the nude mouse model, corresponding to a correct predictive value for resistance of 97%.

Comprehensive Sample Repository

Our comprehensive sample repository includes native protein lysates, serum from tumor bearing mice, purified DNA and RNA, tissue micro arrays (TMAs), formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumor blocks as well as snap-frozen frozen tumor tissue. The samples can be shipped (non-vital material) or analyzed internally at ONCOTEST e.g. by quantitative PCR, Bio-Plex™ assay or ELISA, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

repository