Determination of human brain tumour therapy response using an ex vivo invasion assay provides a potential step toward individualized treatment

11509 Background: Malignant brain tumours are the 6th leading cause of pre-mature death in Ontario with over 10,000 potential years of life lost each year. Improved treatment for malignant brain tumours is needed. Models assessing chemotherapy response employ clonal malignant human tumour cells while patient responses are heterogeneous. Tumour spreading is dependent on tissue invasion and in this study, a surgical sample of each patient’s tumour was used to assess invasion and growth while exposed to a panel of clinically relevant chemotherapies. Methods: Tissue specimens were placed into a nutrient-rich collagen gel that mimics the tumour environment in the body. Chemotherapy treatments were suspended in the matrix surrounding the tumour. Growth and invasion in the presence of chemotherapies was assessed for 5 days following surgical removal in this 3 dimensional matrix and compared to control conditions using student t- test. Results: 12 patient’s individual tumour response was assessed. 4 patients tumo...