Abstract B19: Breast cancer patient-derived xenografts: The University of Illinois at Chicago Cancer Center experience

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to create the first ever breast cancer patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Cancer Center available to all breast cancer investigators. The intention is to provide opportunities to perform preclinical trials of lead cancer drugs as well as to conduct racial disparity studies. Methods: All patient tissues were collected from informed, consented patients with an IRB approved protocol (#14-1078) and with compliance of HIPAA law. None of the patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Within 30 minutes of surgical excision, each tumor specimen was bilaterally implanted into the 2nd thoracic mammary fat pad of two NOD/SCID/IL2γ-receptor null (NSG) mice. Additional tissue was placed in RNAlater for gene expression analysis in successful engraftments. Transplantation sites were monitored daily for one week and measured weekly with calipers using the formula l x w 2 /2. Formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded sections (5 μm) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE Feb 11-14, 2016; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(16_Suppl):Abstract nr B19.