TAMI-16. BIOMATERIAL MATRICES TO STUDY GLIOBLASTOMA INVASION

INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly infiltrative and lethal brain cancer. Previous studies have suggested that GBM tumors are stiffer than healthy brain tissues. We posit that local changes in the mechanical microenvironment near the tumor/tissue interface promote migration of GBM cells away from primary tumors. These studies seek to improve our understanding of how mechanical changes to the microenvironment of GBM tumors and surrounding brain tissue drive GBM progression using an in vitro, 3D model incorporating patient-derived primary GBM cells and a brain matrix-mimetic scaffold in which mechanical modulus can be varied.