NCI Releases First Publicly Available Tissue Microarray (TMA) Panel from Its Patient-Derived Models Repository (NCI-PDMR)

TMA slide on the left showing 120 small pieces of tumor tissue cut from PDX models, and on the right, a highly magnified image of one of those samples of the PDX tumor — Photograph of a TMA slide and a highly magnified sample of PDX tumor

The NCI-PDMR recently released its first TMA panel from patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) of pancreatic adenocarcinoma for distribution to the cancer research community.

Laboratory work involving individual tumors as well as scaling up models of cancer is challenging; however, a single TMA slide containing 60 tumor samples is an easily manageable research tool. NCI is working to help meet researchers’ increasing demands for high-quality TMAs.

Prominent Features of NCI’s First TMA Panel

The first available TMA panel contains pancreatic cancer samples.
Each microscope slide contains 120 small pieces of tumor tissue (duplicates of 60, plus controls) cut from PDX models of predominantly pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Each sample is a 1.5 mm core of PDX tumor tissue derived from 1 of 44 patients with diverse treatment histories collected from primary and metastatic tumors.

NCI’s TMAs Are of Unique Scientific Value

Investigators can use NCI’s TMA slides to screen tumors for protein biomarkers of interest, and then request the same PDX model, or an organoid or cell line derived from the same tumor, from the NCI-PDMR for follow-up research. The tumor models in this panel include both wildtype KRAS and mutant, which is clinically relevant, as KRAS is a major driver of pancreatic cancer and thus is a therapeutic drug target.

Each tumor associated with the NCI-PDMR’s TMAs includes:

Comprehensive genomic and histopathological information
Originating patient treatment history
Freely available data to download from the NCI-PDMR’s publicly accessible database

Additional Information about the NCI-PDMR

NCI makes each patient-derived model publicly available at a nominal cost to the requesting investigator to support basic and translational cancer research.
A certified pathologist assesses the quality of each core.
NCI is developing additional PDX TMA panels, including an extensive array of colorectal cancer models.

For more information about the TMAs and NCI-PDMR patient-derived models, contact NCI_PDM_Repository@mail.nih.gov.