Brain Slice Explants to Predict Drug Response in Brain Tumors

A Feasibility Study to Determine if a Novel Patient-derived Explant Platform Can Produce Drug Sensitivity Scores Within a Clinically Relevant Time Frame in Patients With CNS Tumors

This biospecimen collection study will evaluate the feasibility of engrafting and testing resected Central nervous system (CNS) tumors tumor tissue ex vivo to estimate drug response, in pediatric and adult subjects. CNS tumors display remarkable heterogeneity and unfortunately there are no reliable precision oncology platforms that can identify the most effective therapy for each patient. Recent work has demonstrated the success of functional precision oncology platforms using patient-derived explant (PDE) at predicting drug response in various cancers. Since PDEs maintain important aspects of tumor heterogeneity they may prove effective as functional models for CNS tumors. The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility of using a novel PDE platform to generate drug sensitivity scores from patients with central nervous system tumors in Pediatric and adult subjects having low- or high-grade CNS tumors resected. The secondary objective is to estimate the proportion of successfully scaled PDEs generated per given tumor size.

In order to participate in this study a subject must meet all of the eligibility criteria outlined below.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Written informed consent obtained to participate in the study and HIPAA authorization for the release of personal health information or written assent and parental consent for pediatric subjects or surrogate consent provided by the subject's legally authorized guardians.
2. A diagnosis of a tumor residing in the central nervous system with surgery plan to have surgical resection.
3. The subject is willing and able to comply with study procedures based on the judgment of the investigator or protocol designer.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. All subjects must not meet any of the following exclusion criteria prior to enrollment to participate in this study:

   Any serious medical or psychiatric disorder that would interfere with the subject's ability to give informed consent.

2. Incarcerated individuals.