Charles River Laboratories Updates Online Tumor Model Compendium

Charles River Laboratories announced on May 16, 2017 that the expansion of its oncology discovery business will include significant additions to its online Tumor Model Compendium. The Compendium provides oncology researchers with a resource to identify and locate targeted suitable patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) based on specific histology and molecular properties. It now includes additional molecular characteristics for syngeneic models.

“The use of a human tumor graft in a humanized model represents the future of immuno-oncology research,” said Birgit Girshick, corporate senior vice president, Global Discovery, at Charles River, in a press statement. “A model that more closely mirrors human immune systems allows researchers to conduct groundbreaking studies more efficiently and effectively, with the goal of developing more translational therapies. Utilizing the Tumor Model Compendium, oncology researchers can identify the exact tumor model and target for their research, getting them that much closer to that goal.”

Charles River has more than 450 fully characterized proprietary PDXs in its portfolio, which represents all major tumor histotypes, and provides extensive background and characterization for oncology research. The most recent Compendium update expands the existing tumor model collection to include: whole-exome mutations determined by next-generation sequencing; gene copy number variations determined by using Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0; and gene expression determined by using Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array

Selecting the appropriate tumor model for in-vivo and in-vitro oncology is crucial. Charles River has partnered with OcellO to further expand the capabilities with PDX models. In this collaboration, OcellO uses human tumor material from Charles River PDX models and applies it in its three-dimensional (3D) cell-culture drug-screening platform. This high-throughput platform enables the growth of micro-tumors in a natural extracellular matrix environment and uses automated 3D imaging to analyze the effects of small molecules and antibodies on tumor development.

“The extended range of tumor subtypes and high level of annotation of Charles River’s PDX Compendium enables the selection of the optimum tumor models with the most appropriate mutational profile for in-vivo studies,” said Leo Price, CEO and founder of OcellO. “The use of the same PDX tumor cells in OcellO's in-vitro 3D culture platform enables pre-screening of tumor models with test compounds in a highly translational high-throughput platform.”

The recent tumor model updates have also enhanced scientific presentations. At the 2017 AACR Annual Meeting, a meeting featuring advances in cancer science and medicine from institutions around the world, Charles River presented three posters highlighting the enhancement of certain models for oncology drug discovery.

• Whole-exome somatic mutation analysis of mouse cancer models and implications for preclinical immunomodulatory drug development 

• Humanized single mouse trial: A preclinical platform feasible for immune-oncology drug screening and translational biomarker development 

• In vitro PDX models: 3D cultured patient-derived tumors for compound evaluation (in conjunction with OcellO).

Charles River’s acquisition of Oncotest GmbH in 2015 has strengthened its portfolio of oncology products and services, which includes studies in human xenograft, syngeneic, humanized immunotherapy research models, flow cytometry, and IVIS imaging services. Oncotest GmbH is now known as Charles River Discovery Research Services Germany GmbH. The company is a Freiburg, Germany-based organization with a specialization in PDX models. To address the increasing importance of immune-oncology, Charles River announced the availability of its triple-immunodeficient mouse model, known as the NCG model, in April 2017.

Source: Charles River