The authors would like to thank the MSKCC Tissue Procurement Service Team (TPS), specifically, Maria Corazon Mariano, Priscilla McNeil, Anas Idelbi, Daniel Navarrete and Katrina Allen, in all of their efforts in the successful pursuit of this project and funding from the following sources: 5 R21 CA158609-02 and the Conquer Cancer Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In addition, the authors would like to thank Eric Cottington PhD, Vice President of the Office of Research and Project Administration, the Office of Technology Development, Research Outreach and Compliance and RTM Information Systems Support, in the support of the submission of this manuscript.

NOTE: Patient tissue procurement was authorized through institutionally review board (IRB)-approved Biospecimen and Clinical Protocols (Protocol numbers 09-121 and 11-041, respectively) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
1. Tissue Procurement
<ol>
	<li>Procurement of patient primary tumor/metastasis 
	NOTE: To date, this protocol has been performed on surgically removed pancreatic, gastric and breast tumor types, as well as, lymphoma metastases.
	<ol>
		<li>Direct the Surgical t...

<ol>
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L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Therapeutic+response+to+CDK4/6+inhibition+in+breast+cancer+defined+by+ex+vivo+analysis+of+human+tumors.">Therapeutic response to CDK4/6 inhibition in breast cancer defined by ex vivo analysis of human tumors.</a> Cell Cycle. 11 (14), 2756-2761 (2012).</li><li>Bray, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bcl-2+Modulation+to+Activate+Apoptosis+in+Prostate+Cancer.">Bcl-2 Modulation to Activate Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer.</a> Molecular Cancer Research. 7 (9), 1487-1496 (2009).</li><li>Quail, D. F., Joyce, J. 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A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+and+genetic+studies+of+isolated+cells+from+parathyroid+tumors+reveal+the+complex+pathogenesis+of+parathyroid+neoplasia.">Functional and genetic studies of isolated cells from parathyroid tumors reveal the complex pathogenesis of parathyroid neoplasia.</a> PNAS. 111 (8), 3092-3097 (2014).</li><li>Vidal, S. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+of+cancer+stem+cells+from+human+prostate+cancer+samples.">Isolation of cancer stem cells from human prostate cancer samples.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (85), e51332 (2014).</li><li>Wanping, X., Neckers, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeting+the+Molecular+Chaperone+Heat+Shock+Protein+90+Provides+a+Multifaceted+Effect+on+Diverse+Cell+Signaling+of+Cancer+Cells.">Targeting the Molecular Chaperone Heat Shock Protein 90 Provides a Multifaceted Effect on Diverse Cell Signaling of Cancer Cells.</a> Clinical Cancer Research. 13, 1625-1629 (2007).</li><li>Moulick, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Affinity-based+proteomics+reveal+cancer-specific+networks+coordinated+by+Hsp90.">Affinity-based proteomics reveal cancer-specific networks coordinated by Hsp90.</a> Nature Chemical Biology. 7 (11), 818-826 (1038).</li><li>Alpaugh, M. L., Tomlinson, J. S., Ye, Y., Barsky, S. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Relationship+of+sialyl-Lewis(x/a)+underexpression+and+E-cadherin+overexpression+in+the+lymphovascular+embolus+of+inflammatory+breast+cancer.">Relationship of sialyl-Lewis(x/a) underexpression and E-cadherin overexpression in the lymphovascular embolus of inflammatory breast cancer.</a> American Journal of Pathology. 161 (2), 619-628 (2002).</li><li>Chu, K., Boley, K. M., Moraes, R., Barsky, S. H., Robertson, F. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+paradox+of+E-cadherin:+role+in+response+to+hypoxia+in+the+tumor+microenvironment+and+regulation+of+energy+metabolism.">The paradox of E-cadherin: role in response to hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment and regulation of energy metabolism.</a> Oncotarget. 4 (3), 446-462 (2013).</li><li>Vaira, V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preclinical+model+of+organotypic+culture+for+pharmacodynamic+profiling+of+human+tumors.">Preclinical model of organotypic culture for pharmacodynamic profiling of human tumors.</a> PNAS. 107 (18), 8352-8356 (2010).</li><li>Centenera, M. M., Raj, G. V., Knudsen, K. E., Tilley, W. D., Butler, L. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ex+vivo+culture+of+human+prostate+tissue+and+drug+development.">Ex vivo culture of human prostate tissue and drug development.</a> Nature Reviews Urology. 10, 483-487 (2013).</li><li>Jhaveri, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Heat+shock+protein+90+inhibitors+in+the+treatment+of+cancer:+current+status+and+future+directions.">Heat shock protein 90 inhibitors in the treatment of cancer: current status and future directions.</a> Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs. 5, 611-628 (2014).</li><li>Gerecitano, J. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Using+124-PU-H71PET+imaging+to+predict+intratumoral+concentration+in+patients+on+a+phase+I+trial+of+PU-H71.">Using 124-PU-H71PET imaging to predict intratumoral concentration in patients on a phase I trial of PU-H71.</a> Journal of Clinical Oncology. 31, 11076-11 (2013).</li><li>Yildiz-Aktas, I., Dabbs, D. 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No conflicts of interest disclosed.

Cancer biologists face significant challenges when attempting to develop efficacious therapeutic strategies. Testing drugs in development on established cancer cell lines cannot accurately reflect in vivo response and in vivo experiments on PDX models are labor intensive and very expensive. Given the above, the application of ex vivo techniques of primary patient tumors14, 15 is now positioned beside the molecular analysis of established cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenograf...

Developing efficacious cancer therapeutics has proven to be extremely challenging. Cancer cell lines and tumor explants - as well as xenografts have been used in cancer research for over half a century1,2,3. To date, the molecular analysis of drug sensitivity and resistance in both established cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDX) is indispensable. However, testing of compounds in established cancer cell lines is not often predictive of in vivo efficacy, and corresponding in vivo studies in animals, especially in PDX models, is very expensive and time consuming. The limitations of these model systems, namely the inability to inform on the influence of the native microenvironment in tumor progression and response to therapeutic strategies, has led the research field to develop additional methods to compliment these analyses. Of recent, heightened attention is being paid towards ex vivo analysis of patient tumor explants 4, 5 due to the greater understanding that cancer therapeutic response is not exclusive to the inherent molecular composition of cancer cells but rather is greatly influenced by the tumor cell microenvironment 6, 7 a feature that cannot be recapitulated by traditional culturing methods and/or PDX. Ex vivo analysis in the above context (i.e., influence of adjacent surrounding tumor cell microenvironment) implies assessment of viable primary tumor/metastasis sections, rather than ex vivo analysis of cellular isolates 8, 9.
We report here on an ex vivo technique (i.e., precision-sliced fresh tissue sections) of both patient primary tumors and associated metastases (i.e., lymph nodes) that faithfully informs on response (IC50), off-target effects and allows for molecular analysis of resistance and feedback mechanisms. Additionally, a correlative analysis of therapeutic sensitivity/resistance versus biomarker and gene expression profile can be performed in an effort to identify patients more likely to respond to the experimental drug of interest (i.e., high drug response matches patient with particular biological profile). Application of the ex vivo technique and assessment in a multi-parameter fashion is movement towards patient selection and overall improvement of clinical outcomes.
Ex vivo treatment response analysis could become a standard tool in the preclinical and clinical development of cancer therapeutics and is envisioned as a step towards a personalized medicine approach in therapeutic development strategies.

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			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Vibratome Leica VT1000s</td>
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			<td style="width:119px;">14047235613</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">UltraPure agarose</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">16500500</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Prepare 4% and 6% before use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Injector blade</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Ted Pella</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">121-4</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">MEM with Penicillin&#160; + Streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Media Core Facilities (MSKCC)</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">The media is prepared at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Scalpel no. 10</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">31-200-32</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Disposable forceps</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Cole-Parmer</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">84011182</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">Embedding mold</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Electron Microscopy Science</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">70181</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">FBS (heat inactivated)</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Gemini</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">100106</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">24 well plates</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">3524</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Formalin (10%)</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Sigma Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SDHT501128&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">16% Formaldehyde solution</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">28908</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Embedding microsettes</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Simport</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M503-2</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Ethanol (70%)</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A405P-4</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Waterbath</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15-462-2SQ</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Microwave</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">General Electric</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ModelJES2051DNBB</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Adhesive (Ethyl Cyanoacrylate)</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">E1505-5G</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">10mm dishes</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">BD Falcon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">353003</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">15ml tubes</td>
			<td style="width:96px;">BD Falcon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">352096</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
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ex vivo treatment response of primary tumors and/or associated metastases for preclinical and clinical development of therapeutics

The molecular analysis of established cancer cell lines has been the mainstay of cancer research for the past several decades. Cell culture provides both direct and rapid analysis of therapeutic sensitivity and resistance. However, recent evidence suggests that therapeutic response is not exclusive to the inherent molecular composition of cancer cells but rather is greatly influenced by the tumor cell microenvironment, a feature that cannot be recapitulated by traditional culturing methods. Even implementation of tumor xenografts, though providing a wealth of information on drug delivery/efficacy, cannot capture the tumor cell/microenvironment crosstalk (i.e., soluble factors) that occurs within human tumors and greatly impacts tumor response. To this extent, we have developed an ex vivo (fresh tissue sectioning) technique which allows for the direct assessment of treatment response for preclinical and clinical therapeutics development. This technique maintains tissue integrity and cellular architecture within the tumor cell/microenvironment context throughout treatment response providing a more precise means to assess drug efficacy.

For this study, the ex vivo technique was used in a correlative analysis of therapeutic sensitivity/resistance of a heat shock protein 90 inhibitor (Hsp90i). In a preclinical assessment of this Hsp90i, the breast cancer primary tumor, an ER+ invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and associated lymph node metastasis were analyzed ex vivo for treatment response&#160;(Figure 1). Multiple 200 &#956;m serial sections were treated with vehicle only and increasing doses (0.25, 0.50...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Ex Vivo Treatment Response of Primary Tumors and/or Associated Metastases for Preclinical and Clinical Development of Therapeutics at JoVE.com

Ex Vivo Treatment Response of Primary Tumors and/or Associated Metastases for Preclinical and Clinical Development of Therapeutics

Established cancer cell lines and xenografts have been the mainstay of cancer research for the past several decades. However, recent evidence suggests that therapeutic response is greatly influenced by the tumor cell microenvironment. Therefore, we have developed an ex vivo analysis of primary tumor specimens for drug development purposes.

Ex Vivo Treatment Response of Primary Tumors and/or Associated Metastases for Preclinical and Clinical Development of Therapeutics

The molecular analysis of established cancer cell lines has been the mainstay of cancer research for the past several decades. Cell culture provides both ...

ex-vivo-treatment-response-primary-tumors-andor-associated-metastases

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14.6K Views.  Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Established cancer cell lines and xenografts have been the mainstay of cancer research for the past several decades. However, recent evidence suggests that therapeutic response is greatly influenced by the tumor cell microenvironment. Therefore, we have developed an ex vivo analysis of primary tumor specimens for drug development purposes.