GreeheyCCRI Pediatric PDX Biobank (GPPB) 

In 2024, the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute received a valuable donation of cryopreserved patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tissue from Dr. Peter Houghton. This collection, which spans over 40 years of research, includes models from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University through the Pediatric Preclinical Testing Program (PPTP), and later the Pediatric Preclinical Testing Consortium (PPTC), as well as from GCCRI with support from The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).

The biobank contains over 300 models representing a range of pediatric cancer diagnoses available for research. These cryopreserved models are whole tissue samples developed and passaged in vivo, enhancing their ability to retain the disease characteristics present during the biopsy. This process improves the relevance and translational value of the study results for clinical patient care.

For reference, see

• Morton CL,Houghton PJ, “Establishment of human tumor xenografts in immunodeficient mice,” Nat Protoc. 2007;2(2):247-50; Neale G, Su X, Morton CL,et al.,
• “Molecular characterization of the pediatric preclinical testing panel,” Clin Cancer Res. 2008 Jul 5;14(14):4572-83; and Rokita JL, et al., “Genomic Profiling of
• Childhood Tumor Patient-Derived Xenograft Models to Enable Rational Clinical Trial Design,” Cell Reports, 2019 Nov 5;29(6):1675-1689.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.09.071.

The available PDX models include sarcomas (malignant rhabdoid, Wilms tumor [nephroblastoma], Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, clear cell sarcoma), neuroblastoma, brain tumors (glioma, glioblastoma, ependymoma, medulloblastoma, AT/RT), hepatoblastoma, and leukemias.

For a comprehensive list of diagnoses along with patient demographics, click here. (PDX models_Ped-In Vivo-TP_(v6.2)_St. Jude(2-24))

Genomic information on many samples can be found on the PDX for Childhood Cancer Therapeutics (PCAT) Portal. pedtranscriptome.org

To request a model, please fill out the GPPB Materials Transfer Request form below.

GPPB Materials Transfer Request

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