IGF::OT::IGF SBIR TOPIC 355: Cell and Animal-Based Models to Advance Cancer Health Disparity Research. To contribute to studies of cancer health disparities by generating several patient-derived xenog

Hera Testing Laboratories, Inc., Lexington KY

Investigators

Abstract

Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The most common form, Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), accounts for over 80% of lung cancer related deaths. In recent years, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models have been established for various cancers and these models are increasingly used for preclinical studies of targeted therapies. Such studies highlight the ability of PDX models to better predict clinical tumor response compared to standard cell line-derived xenograft models. Furthermore, PDX models also provides the opportunity to tailor treatments to specific tumor genotypes/phenotypes. The latest therapeutic strategies only show a minimal increase in NSCLC survivorship of 5% greater 5-year survival rate. The majority of patients that receive first-line treatment are not good candidates for further chemotherapy due to disease progression, drug resistance, side-effects, severe toxicity and effects of comorbidity. The economic and survival rate impact of post first-line chemotherapy for NSCLC presents the crucial need to optimize the selection of initial chemotherapy regimen. Here we propose to develop and characterize at least 5 PDX lines from NSCLC tumors derived from minority populations. 20-40 tumor specimens obtained from patients that belong to Appalachian region, African descent, or Asian descent, will be transplanted into NOD-SCID mice and SRG rats, and serially transplanted for 4 generation (passages) to establish 5 NSCLC PDX lines that can be effectively grown in SCID rodents.