The Institute is Poised to Create Cancer Stem Cells From Patients, Create 3-D Tumor Models and Perform Drug Testing on 3-D Models
As previously described in other recent posts, there are shortcomings in personalized medicine using cancer genomics, animal models and prior drug susceptibility testing in 2-D cultured cancer cells models. As previously mentioned, there is promise with cultured 3-D models. Cultured 3-D models represents an opportunity to provide personalized medicine solutions for cancer patients; improve the drug development process; and decrease the drug failure rare in oncology which is the highest for all diseases. Over the past several years, the Institute has achieved several milestones in cancer research to realize the potential of providing personalized cancer medicine and facilitate opportunities to facilitate cancer drug development, which carries the highest drug failure rate in the pharmaceutical industry. The Institute has achieved the following milestones:
1. Isolated cancer cells from patient tumors and PDX models.
2. Grow 3-D cultured tumor models.
3. Performed drug testing in 3-D cultured tumor models.
4. Established the first virus-free and oncogene-free iPSC technology.
5. Develop methods to produce peptides and growth factors which are required to grow cancer cells. This milestone will reduce the cost of performing drug testing.
As an example of this research, see the panel of colon cancer cells grown in 3-D tumors and subjected to a panel of different cancer drugs. Observe that some cancer drugs are more effective in killing tumors than others. The Institute thanks our donors over the years for supporting this research.
The Institute will be pursuing a comprehensive fundraising program of private funding, grants and contracts to launch the next wave of cancer research to recruit cancer patients, collect tumor samples, create cancer stem cells, form 3-D models, conduct drug testing, perform genetic profiles, and monitor patient outcomes after receiving cancer drugs. We anticipate that if the Institute achieves the financial goals, this research program will represent the most comprehensive cancer program to serve community hospitals, academia and industry.
