In vivo Drug Testing of Pediatric CNS Tumors Using Patient Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Models

Scope of Work – Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine The NIH/NCI UO1 grant CA199288 entitled “In vivo Drug Testing of Pediatric CNS Tumors Using Patient Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Models” is aimed at improving animal models for pediatric brain tumors. The grant uses a variety of genetically defined brain tumor entities as patient-derived xenografts (PDX) models, in which human tumor are gown in mouse models. The ultimate aim of studies such as these is to evaluate the efficacy of a novel agents to treat pediatric brain tumors. There is a need to evaluate the features of these PDX models to ensure that they are faithful mimics of the human disease and to ensure that they have grown appropriately as a valid model. The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine subaward Co-Investigator Dr. Daniel J. Brat, will be subcontracted by Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago to provide: 1. Neuropathological and clinical expertise. Dr. Brat will evaluate the histologic, immunohistochemical and molecular characteristics of PDX models of pediatric brain tumors. He will also evaluate the effects of therapy on the brain tumors as these experiments are performed.