Abstract IA02: Introduction to the EuroPDX Consortium

Abstract

Abstract Started in early 2013, EurOPDX gathers 16 academic institutions throughout Europe including 6 Comprehensive Cancer Centres. Each institution is part of a hospital or is collaborating with a neighboring one. EurOPDX includes world-renowned experts at the forefront of research in basic, preclinical, translational and clinical oncology across multiple pathologies, and displays a wide range of expertise in technological platforms. The virtual PDX collection of the consortium consists of more than 1,500 subcutaneous and orthotopic models for more of 30 different pathologies. Our objective is to improve the predictability of preclinical data by (i) improving characterization of the models, (ii) implementing new PDX models to strengthen the representativeness of the collection, and humanized PDX models, (iii) harmonizing working practice, (iv) Integrating complementary models (e.g. ex vivo 2D and 3D assays) in innovative drug development pipelines, and (v) leveraging deep molecular and pharmacogenomic profiling data of the collection of models to discover predictive biomarkers, new targets, and new strategies to overcome drug resistance. In this lecture I will illustrate the value of the consortium with a few examples of collaborative projects involving academic labs but also industrial partners. In particular, I will discuss the current strategies to setting-up the logistics for the performance of multicenter (and sometimes multipathologies) preclinical and co-clinical trials in a collection of fully characterized PDX models. Citation Format: Sergio Roman-Roman. Introduction to the EuroPDX Consortium. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Patient-Derived Cancer Models: Present and Future Applications from Basic Science to the Clinic; Feb 11-14, 2016; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(16_Suppl):Abstract nr IA02.