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Strüder D, Momper T, Irmscher N, Krause M, Liese J, Schraven S, Zimpfer A, Zonnur S, Burmeister AS, Schneider B, Frerich B, Mlynski R, Große-Thie C, Junghanss C, Maletzki C. Establishment and characterization of patient-derived head and neck cancer models from surgical specimens and endoscopic biopsies. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:246. [PMID: 34362423 PMCID: PMC8344210 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02047-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is heterogeneous in etiology, phenotype and biology. Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) maintain morphology and molecular profiling of the original tumors and have become a standard “Avatar” model for human cancer research. However, restricted availability of tumor samples hindered the widespread use of PDX. Most PDX-projects include only surgical specimens because reliable engraftment from biopsies is missing. Therefore, sample collection is limited and excludes recurrent and metastatic, non-resectable cancer from preclinical models as well as future personalized medicine. Methods This study compares the PDX-take rate, -growth, histopathology, and molecular characteristics of endoscopic specimens with surgical specimens. HNSCC samples (n = 55) were collected ad hoc, fresh frozen and implanted into NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ mice. Results Engraftment was successful in both sample types. However, engraftment rate was lower (21 vs. 52%) and growth delayed (11.2 vs. 6.7 weeks) for endoscopic biopsies. Following engraftment, growth kinetic was similar. Comparisons of primary tumors and corresponding PDX models confirmed preservation of histomorphology (HE histology) and molecular profile (Illumina Cancer Hotspot Panel) of the patients’ tumors. Accompanying flow cytometry on primary tumor specimens revealed a heterogeneous tumor microenvironment among individual cases and identified M2-like macrophages as positive predictors for engraftment. Vice versa, a high PD-L1 expression (combined positive score on tumor/immune cells) predicted PDX rejection. Conclusion Including biopsy samples from locally advanced or metastatic lesions from patients with non-surgical treatment strategies, increases the availability of PDX for basic and translational research. This facilitates (pre-) clinical studies for individual response prediction based on immunological biomarkers. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-02047-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Strüder
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery "Otto Koerner", Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Theresa Momper
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Schillingallee 70, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Nina Irmscher
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Schillingallee 70, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Mareike Krause
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Schillingallee 70, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jan Liese
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schraven
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery "Otto Koerner", Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Annette Zimpfer
- Institute of Pathology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Sarah Zonnur
- Institute of Pathology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Ann-Sophie Burmeister
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Schillingallee 70, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Björn Schneider
- Institute of Pathology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Bernhard Frerich
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Robert Mlynski
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery "Otto Koerner", Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Christina Große-Thie
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Schillingallee 70, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Christian Junghanss
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Schillingallee 70, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Claudia Maletzki
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Schillingallee 70, 18057, Rostock, Germany.
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