Assessment of breast cancer primary tumor material in a 3D in vivo model

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women and highly heterogeneous with a variety of different molecular subtypes. The analysis of the individual tumor biology is necessary to develop a specific and individualized treatment plan for every patient. The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model, a 3D-in-vivo-tumor-model, could potentially provide a methodology that facilitates the gain of additional information regarding the tumor biology as well as the testing of the tumor's individual sensitivity to different therapies. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to establish the grafting of different breast cancer primaries onto the CAM for tumor profiling and the investigation of different parameters. METHODS: Breast cancer primary tissue of different patients was grafted onto the CAM. Subsequently, 3D volume and perfusion measurements were performed during the engraftment period. Histological analyses of the tumors were carried out after the engraftment period. RESULTS: The grafting of the breast cancer primaries onto the CAM was successful. The tumors remained partially vital and displayed angiogenic development on the CAM. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer primary material can be grafted onto the CAM and we observed visible and measurable changes of perfusion over time.