Fresh tumour biopsies in world-first technique for cancer treatments

University of Queensland researchers have developed an innovative technique to help pharmaceutical and technology companies design better cancer drugs using tumour biopsies less than 30 minutes after they are extracted from patients.

The ‘Drug uptake in ex Vivo tumours’ technique was developed after researchers found fresh patient tumour biopsies responded differently to treatments than the tissue cultures traditionally used.

Its inventor, TRI-based UQ Diamantina Institute’s Dr Fiona Simpson, said the technique could be used to show how long antibodies stayed active in patients, or when antibodies were taken into the tumour where they’re destroyed.

“The technique will significantly help pharmaceutical and technology companies design future cancer drugs,” Dr Simpson said.

“Until now, scientists have only looked at how cancer drugs interact with tissue culture, not fresh tumours.

“Applying medications to tissue culture doesn’t always work because the immune system responds differently in a body.

“I thought it was pretty obvious that we should test cancer drugs on actual tumours, but people kept telling my research team that it wouldn’t work!”

The technique includes a step-by-step process to help drug companies and researchers better understand how drugs interact with patients, and respond to targeted treatments.

“We’ve created a comprehensive process, including detailed videos on tumour extraction and drug-testing processes, for researchers around the world to use,” she said.

“The technique is useful for all types of cancers, and we’re very excited about its possibilities.”

The research was published in Cell Press’ STAR Protocols  (DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2020.100087).

This article was first published by UQ Medicine.

You can donate to this research at: https://www.charidy.com/pagivingday/simpson_lab

Photos: Shannon Leftwich with tumour cell slide; A/Prof Fiona Simpson and her research team