The Xenograft and Cell Lines Core at GCCRI specializes in preclinical testing of chemotherapeutics and their combinations using mouse models. This Core is available to researchers at UT Health San Antonio, pharmaceutical companies, and any laboratories involved in animal research. The testing methods and data analysis protocols are based on established practices from the Pediatric Preclinical Testing Program (PPTP), including the creation of human tumor xenografts in immunodeficient mice (Morton CL, Houghton PJ, Nat Protoc. 2007;2(2):247-50) and molecular characterization of the pediatric preclinical testing panel (Neale G, Su X, Morton CL, et al., Clin Cancer Res. 2008 Jul 5;14(14):4572-83).
The team excels in a range of in vivo studies, including dose-response assessments, toxicity testing, single-agent and combination efficacy testing, and pharmacodynamic studies. They have developed a comprehensive biobank of solid pediatric tumor xenograft models, including both patient- and cell-derived models, and maintain matching cell lines for most of these models.
Under the direction of Dr. Anna Rogojina, the Xenograft and Cell Lines Core is a key component of the Greehey CCRI’s mission to advance therapies for pediatric cancer.