Development and characterization of HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumorgrafts

Randall J. Kimple, Paul M. Harari, Alexandra D. Torres, Robert Z. Yang, Benjamin J. Soriano, Menggang Yu, Eric A. Armstrong, Grace C. Blitzer, Molly A. Smith, Laurel D. Lorenz, Denis Lee, David T. Yang, Timothy M. McCulloch, Gregory K. Hartig, Paul F. Lambert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To develop a clinically relevant model system to study head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), we have established and characterized a direct-from-patient tumorgraft model of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative cancers. Experimental Design: Patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent HNSCC were consented for donation of tumor specimens. Surgically obtained tissue was implanted subcutaneously into immunodeficient mice. During subsequent passages, both formalin-fixed/paraffin-embedded as well as flash-frozen tissues were harvested. Tumors were analyzed for a variety of relevant tumor markers. Tumor growth rates and response to radiation, cisplatin, or cetuximab were assessed and early passage cell strains were developed for rapid testing of drug sensitivity. Results: Tumorgrafts have been established in 22 of 26 patients to date. Significant diversity in tumorgraft tumor differentiation was observed with good agreement in degree of differentiation between patient tumor and tumorgraft (Kappa 0.72). Six tumorgrafts were HPV-positive on the basis of p16 staining. A strong inverse correlation between tumorgraft p16 and p53 or Rb was identified (Spearman correlations P=0.085 and P = 0.002, respectively). Significant growth inhibition of representative tumorgrafts was shown with cisplatin, cetuximab, or radiation treatment delivered over a two-week period. Early passage cell strains showed high consistency in response to cancer therapy between tumorgraft and cell strain. Conclusions: We have established a robust human tumorgraft model system for investigating HPVpositive and HPV-negative HNSCC. These tumorgrafts show strong correlation with the original tumor specimens and provide a powerful resource for investigating mechanisms of therapeutic response as well as preclinical testing.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)855-864
Number of pages10
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 15 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Development and characterization of HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumorgrafts'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this