The ITCC-P4 PDX platform of pediatric cancers for preclinical testing

Abstract Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related deaths among children in high-income countries. Tumor heterogeneity and lack of mechanism-of-action-based therapeutic options are key challenges to overcome in order to improve pediatric cancer patients’ survival. Here, we report the EU-IMI-2 funded public-private partnership “ITCC-Pediatric Preclinical Proof-of-Concept Platform” (ITCC-P4), which has built a large repertoire of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, representing all major solid pediatric cancer types, for in vivo drug testing. Three-hundred-fifty-three PDX models from diagnostic and relapsed pediatric cancers have been established and molecularly characterized, together with matched germline/tumor samples. As proof-of-concept, we present in vivo drug screening data in neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma models. PDX data, accessible at http://r2platform.com/itcc-p4 , allow the selection of models based on oncogenic drivers and/or potential biomarkers for preclinical testing. Operated by a non-profit entity ( www.itccp4.com ), this sustainable platform aids academic and industrial researchers in developing and prioritizing innovative therapies for pediatric cancer. Graphical abstract