UCLA researchers in the Department of Biological Chemistry have developed a novel method to study glioblastoma using human brain organoids.
BACKGROUND: The National Institutes of Health defines glioblastoma as the most malignant and pervasive subtype of glioma, or glial-based cancer, and report that it is the most common primary brain tumor in adults. Glioblastomas are an aggressive cancer form that oftenrecur after surgery. Glioblastoma cells can migrate through brain tissue to distant regions outside of the tumor. The current methods for studying glioblastomas need to be improved in order to develop novel and more efficacious clinical treatment options.
INNOVATION: UCLA researchers led by Dr. Aparna Bhaduri have developed a novel method to improve the efficiency with which primary cancer cells can directly be incorporated into brain organoids in order to study glioblastomas. Organoids offer a venue to study cancer cells in vitro in a 3D culture where certain aspects of the natural in vivo tumor environment can be recapitulated. This novel model would allow novel discoveries of glioblastomas.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
ADVANTAGES:
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE: The methods for generating brain organoids and introducing cancer cells has been developed.