Author Spotlight: Modeling Brain Tumors In Vivo Using Electroporation-Based Delivery of Plasmid DNA Representing Patient Mutation Signatures

The technique focuses on modeling patient mutation profiles of glioblastoma in the immunocompetent mouse model and how these different mutations are influencing the tumor microenvironment and response to treatment. Genomic and single cell sequencing identify that the genetic driver mutations of glioblastoma are associated with the aggressiveness of cancer and components of the tumor microenvironment such as the immune cell population. Glioblastoma mouse models in preclinical trials show great success with immunotherapy leading to curative results and no sign of tumor growth after treatment.

However, these effects are not reflected in patients for outcome or survival. This protocol recapitulates patient tumor mutation profiles of glioblastoma in the immunocompetent mouse model, allowing gradual autochthonous tumor growth and better prediction of treatment efficacy, especially with immunotherapy. This modeling system integrates DNA plasmids into the genome through electroporation of immunocompetent mice.

It avoids the use of viruses and transplanting thousands of tumor cells, both of which can have their own immune effects, confounding downstream results. Utilizing an immunocompetent mouse model that recapitulates patient mutation profiles allows for a more accurate assessment of treatment outcomes, preventing the laborious task of taking false positive results to the clinic.