CCBIO seminar: Patrick Schöffski
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Modelling mesenchymal malignancies:
development of patient-derived xenografts of soft tissue sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumours and in vivo-drug testing with direct implications for clinical research (bedside to bench and back)
Patrick Schöffski
Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven Cancer Institute and Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Belgium
The number of reliable animal models of mesenchymal malignancies is limited. As part of an ongoing effort the Department of General Medical Oncology at the University Hospitals in Leuven and the Laboratory of Experimental Oncology at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) have created a platform of innovative, patient-derived xenografts of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) and soft tissue sarcomas (STS) since 2004. The models are used extensively for molecular characterization of tumours, identification of new, potentially relevant therapeutic targets and preclinical testing of experimental anti-cancer compounds. The well-characterized, morphologically and genetically stable animal models are a very useful resource for identification of new therapeutic strategies. Results obtained during in vivo-testing have been translated back to the clinic and formed part of the scientific rationale of recent clinical Phase 2 and 3 studies. An update on the established xenograft platform and available models will be given, some relevant applications will be presented as illustration of the usefulness of such animal models and some currently planned clinical trials will be featured.
Chairperson: Bjørn Tore Gjertsen, CCBIO