Abstract 150: A 515 tumor specimens collection from surgery to benchtop: the WFORCE organoid experience in personalized research

• Published in: Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 2023-04, Vol.83 (7_Supplement), p.150-150
• Main Authors: Forsythe, Steven Donald, Erali, Richard A., Laney, Preston, Meeker, William, Abdulkhuseynova, Salomat, Wajih, Nadeem, Edenhoffer, Nicholas, Schaaf, Cecilia R., Sivakumar, Hemamyammal, Skardal, Aleksander, Strowd, Roy E., Tatter, Stephen B., Clark, Clancy J., Randle, Reese W., Shen, Perry, Levine, Edward A., D'Agostino, Ralph B., Soker, Shay, Votanopoulos, Konstantinos I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1538-7445; 1538-7445
• DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2023-150

Introduction: Patient tumor organoids (PTOs) are a new and developing preclinical model in cancer research. However, there is variation in protocols between centers and lack of consistency in important variables, impacting PTO culture success. In this study, we analyzed factors in clinical data and tumor tissue processing to determine optimal conditions for cell isolation and PTO success. Methods: Under IRB approval, tumor tissues from primary and metastatic sites were procured in clinically indicated surgeries then dissociated using a standardized protocol. PTOs were fabricated using collagen-hyaluronic acid ECM and underwent drug screening at 10 days post fabrication, where viability was assessed. Clinical and tissue processing inputs such as type of primary, peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI), prior surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy, presence of mucin, tissue digestion time, specimen mass, digestion time, and the diameter of isolated cells were analyzed. These factors were assessed by calculating the Pearson Correlation Coefficient (r) and best fit modeling to determine the effect on outputs including tissue viability as measured by % of viable cells using an automated cellular counter, viable cells per mg tissue, and PTO log10 viability by Promega 3D Cell Titer Glo assay. Results: From December 2018-July 2022, 515 tumors from 286 patients with 25 primary types were processed for cellular isolation and PTO fabrication. 407 (79%) provided PTOs for therapeutic testing, with 354 (69%) providing sufficiently viable PTOs for therapeutic interrogation. The most common primary tumor type accrued was appendiceal cancer (n=223, 43%). Tissues processed at 24 hours did not differ in viability outputs when compared to tissues processed immediately (p>0.05). Tissue % viability was better maintained in larger specimens (r=.18, p