Preclinical brain tumor models

At the 4BRAIN lab we are putting a lot of effort in the establishment of preclinical brain tumor models, which led to the establishment of a glioblastoma screening platform. Freshly resected glioblastoma tumor tissue samples are collected from patients treated at Ghent University hospital. Immediately after tumor resection these samples are transported under controlled conditions from the operating room to the lab for further processing and model development.

If you would like to collaborate on the use of these models please contact Prof. Robrecht Raedt.

In vitro: Patient-derived stem cell lines

Primary patient-derived glioma stem cell lines (PDSCL) have become a cornerstone of translational brain cancer research. Unlike long-established immortalized cell lines, PDSCL preserve key genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic features of the original tumor, including intratumoral heterogeneity and stem-like properties such as self-renewal and tumor initiation capacity.

These models more accurately reflect clinically relevant characteristics such as therapy resistance, invasive growth, and molecular subtype diversity. As a result, they provide a more predictive platform for testing novel targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and combination treatments before advancing to clinical trials.

At 4BRAIN we are exploiting these models for various research projects, including high-throughput drug screenings and the establishment of patient-derived xenograft models.

Ex vivo: Patient-derived tissue fragments

Patient-derived glioma stem cell lines (PDSCL) have been the preferred models so far, but their clinical applicability is limited by a high turnaround time and low success rates. Patient derived organoid models have shown potential, but like PDSCL, they lack a functional tumor microenvironment (TME), known to play a crucial role in treatment response and therapy resistance.

To account for these shortcomings, we developed patient-derived glioma tissue fragments (PDTF) from freshly resected tumor tissue samples as a low-cost drug screening platform with high success rates and a functional TME to assess patient specific responses within a clinically relevant timeframe.

In vivo: Patient-derived xenograft animal models

Preclinical animal models are vital in glioblastoma research, providing a crucial bridge between laboratory discoveries and clinical application. These models allow us to study tumor initiation, progression, and response to therapies in a complex, living environment that reflects key aspects of various disease stages. They allow us to translate fundamental insights into clinically relevant strategies, reducing risks and improving the likelihood of success in clinical trials.

The 4BRAIN lab has experience in the establishment of intracranial mouse and rat models, both syngeneic as well as patient-derived xenografts (PDX).