Growing patient tumors in the lab to test cancer medicines
Vascularized tumor explants for drug testing
This project aims to create a new way to grow small pieces of patient tumors in the lab, complete with their own blood supply, to help find the best treatments for cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11121924 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing a method to take small samples of a patient's tumor and grow them in a special lab environment. This environment includes engineered support structures and tiny blood vessels, mimicking how tumors grow in the body. By keeping these 'vascularized tumor explants' alive, scientists can test different cancer drugs directly on a patient's own tumor cells. This approach could help doctors understand how a specific tumor will respond to treatment, leading to more personalized care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who are undergoing surgery and can provide tissue samples are ideal candidates for this type of research.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have a tumor sample available or whose cancer type is not the focus of this specific platform may not directly benefit from this particular research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective, personalized cancer treatments by allowing doctors to test drugs on a patient's own tumor before administering them.
How similar studies have performed: While the concept of growing tumors in the lab exists, this specific method of integrating engineered stroma and vasculature for high-throughput drug testing is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Munn, Lance L. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Munn, Lance L.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.