(P 08) BUILDING A MEDICAL DONATION NETWORK TO ENHANCE DEVELOPMENT OF PEDIATRIC TUMOR MODELS

Objective: Survival outcomes for relapsed or metastatic pediatric solid tumors remain poor, and there is a critical need for preclinical models reflective of high-risk, relapsed/refractory disease. To address this, the Pediatric Research in Oncology Xenografting Consortium (PROXC) has developed an integrated medical donation network to enable autopsy-based patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model generation and tissue banking.

Methods: Tissue procurement protocols from each consortium site (Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) were compiled to establish a comprehensive workflow and streamline coordination of tissue procurement between donating and receiving centers. Partnership with patient advocacy groups were established to raise awareness of the PROXC-coordinated medical donation workflow.

Results: We describe the establishment of 6 regional donation sites aimed at expediting the transport of autopsy tissue to a PROXC site for tissue banking and PDX model generation. We delineate the logistics of patient consent for autopsy tissue collection, information guide explaining the rationale for medical donation of tissue and FAQs around research medical donation for donating centers, material transfer documentation, and specification of tissue requirements to enable model generation and molecular characterization of collected tissue. Metrics have been established to evaluate the feasibility of autopsy tissue procurement and assess the impact on PDX model generation from autopsy cases. Partnerships with patient advocacy groups were established to enhance awareness of this medical donation workflow.

Conclusion: This PROXC initiative represents a collaborative effort to establish a nationwide workflow for medical donation in pediatric oncology to increase the development and access to models of relapse/refractory disease for pediatric solid tumors. Development of these models will contribute to improved understanding of tumor evolution and therapy resistance. Through partnership with patient advocacy groups, this initiative aims to raise institutional awareness, reduce barriers for medical donations, and demonstrate the value of these contributions to both research and families.