Developing A New Pathway for Hope: The CBTN Preclinical Models Portal

For hundreds in the childhood brain tumor research community, the innovative, collaborative approach at the Children's Brain Tumor Network (CBTN) offers novel ways to accelerate drug discovery and advance personalized treatments for children. With its expansive collection of high-quality data and biospecimens, scientists worldwide have access to invaluable resources that can accelerate groundbreaking discoveries. And now, CBTN has launched a new research tool, the CBTN Preclinical Models Portal. This platform offers a new frontier for scientists to explore additional CBTN resources facilitating the development of innovative therapies for young patients facing a brain tumor diagnosis.

The resources listed on CBTN Preclinical Models Portal contain pediatric brain tumor-derived in vitro grown cell lines and xenograft lines. Cell lines are a group of cells that can be grown indefinitely and are used for many purposes, including research, diagnostics, and drug screening. They can be simply described as a live extension of tumor growth outside of a patient's body, the tumor avatars. These “immortal” cells serve as invaluable tools for scientists in medical research. Grown in a laboratory setting, they provide a controlled environment for studying diseases and developing potential treatments. For those working on pediatric brain tumors, accessing a diverse collection of primary cell lines is crucial for understanding tumor biology, identifying biomarkers, and testing therapeutic interventions.

Traditionally, researchers faced significant challenges when searching for cell lines that accurately represented the complex diversity of brain tumors. The sheer volume of available cell lines and the lack of easily accessible associated molecular, clinical, and metadata often made this process time-consuming and frustrating. This hindered progress in pediatric brain tumor research and limited the development of personalized therapies.

The CBTN Preclinical Models Portal was created to address these challenges. This integrative online resource provides a platform for researchers to search, access, and learn more about the available lines. This vast collection of CBTN primary brain tumor cell lines can be explored through connection to the PedcBioPortal for molecular details. By streamlining the process of cell line selection, the Portal aims to facilitate and simplify the access to CBTN cell lines and ultimately accelerate research efforts toward improving patient outcomes. Perhaps the most crucial aspect is that the CBTN Preclinical Models Portal resources are free and accessible to researchers worldwide. This new tool with collection of lines was made possible because of the vast collection of tissue samples amassed through the generous donations of patients and their families. 

Key Features

Comprehensive Database: The CBTN Preclinical Models Portal houses a comprehensive database of pediatric brain tumor cell lines and xenograft lines – cancer models that use a patient's tumor tissue to test treatments. This diverse collection ensures that researchers can find models closely resembling the specific type of pediatric brain tumor they are studying.

Advanced Search Functionality: A user-friendly interface allows researchers to conduct targeted searches through the portal based on various criteria, such as type of culture, clinical indicators and molecular markers (through link to PedcBio Portal). This enables efficient identification of the most relevant cell lines to their research questions.

Detailed Metadata: Each cell line entry provides detailed metadata, including information about the patient's age, gender, race, genetic profile and more. This comprehensive metadata allows researchers to select cell lines that accurately represent the patient population they are interested in studying.

The Impact of the Preclinical Models Portal

The CBTN Preclinical Models Portal is a groundbreaking resource that offers a comprehensive and transparent view of the pediatric brain tumor models available from CBTN. With its user-friendly interface and filtering features, researchers can quickly identify models relevant to their specific brain tumor diagnosis. Additionally, models with genomic data offer direct access to PedCBioPortal, a cloud-based platform that empowers the analysis of pediatric cancer data. This ensures a seamless and informative experience for researchers exploring CBTN's valuable collection of tumor models.

The CBTN Preclinical Models Portal profoundly impacts pediatric brain tumor research by providing researchers with access to a high-quality collection of cell lines and advanced tools for data analysis. The Portal will enable more efficient and practical studies, which in turn will lead to a better understanding of brain tumor biology, the identification of novel biomarkers, and the development of more targeted and effective therapies.

The CBTN Preclinical Models Portal equips researchers with the tools and resources needed to drive discoveries that can ultimately improve patient outcomes. With a goal of integrating all data into the Kids First Data Resource Portal by June 2025, this evolving platform continues to play a vital role in advancing our understanding of these complex diseases and accelerating innovation.

To explore available preclinical models on the portal, click here.