Leiomyosarcoma Cell Line Compound Screening
Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare and aggressive type of cancer that affects smooth muscle tissue. Developing new treatments for LMS has been challenging because researchers have lacked laboratory models that accurately represent real LMS tumors. Many of the commonly used LMS cell lines either were not truly derived from LMS or have changed too much over time to reflect the disease properly. While tumor models grown in mice (called patient-derived xenografts) do keep many of the features of the original tumors, they are not suitable for large-scale treatment testing. To address this gap, our team, working together with national partners including the Broad Institute, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation, developed ten new LMS cell lines grown from patient tumor samples. These cell lines were created using a specialized nutrient-rich culture method designed to help the cells grow and maintain their original characteristics. Early testing using RNA sequencing showed that one of these cell lines, in particular, closely resembles primary LMS tumors, making it a promising model for research.
With this project, we will grow large batches of this high-fidelity LMS cell line, as well as a second comparison cell line, and use them to screen nearly 2,800 potential treatment compounds. This high-throughput screening will be carried out at the Gulf Coast Consortium for Innovative Treatment Discovery and Development. The screening will help us identify treatments that can stop LMS cell growth. The most promising treatments will be studied further to confirm their effects and to explore effective treatment combinations. This work will provide critical tools and insights to discover new treatment options for LMS patients and help accelerate the development of therapies for this difficult-to-treat cancer.