Novel patient-specific immune competent preclinical in vitro models to study early metastasis (B13)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 429280966

To investigate early metastases and to test adjuvant therapies in presence of autologous immune cells novel preclinical immune competent in vitro models based on patient derived DCCs are needed. In project B13 we will therefore generate new LN-derived DCC organoid models from breast, colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients. To study colonization in a more complex and representative microenvironment we will use Precision Cut Tissue Slices from the main metastatic sites lung, liver and lymph nodes spiked with DCCs and immune cells from the same patients. To enable a prolonged cultivation of tissue slices and cocultures of DCCs in tissue preparations, we will develop new microfluidic systems. Thereby, we will establish a model of metastatic niches in vitro allowing to investigate mechanisms for colonization of DCCs in different organs, to unravel functions of different immune cells within this process and to test pharmaceutical interventions preventing colonization.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 305: Striking a moving target: From mechanisms of metastatic colonization to novel systemic therapies
• Applicant Institution: Universität Regensburg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Armin Braun; Dr.-Ing. Frank Sonntag; Dr. Christian Werno