Rapid Research Autopsy: Piecing the Puzzle of Tumor Heterogeneity

Melanie A Krook; Hui-Zi Chen; Russell Bonneville; Patricia Allenby; Sameek Roychowdhury

doi:10.1016/j.trecan.2018.11.004

Rapid Research Autopsy: Piecing the Puzzle of Tumor Heterogeneity

Trends Cancer. 2019 Jan;5(1):1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2018.11.004. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Authors

Melanie A Krook¹, Hui-Zi Chen², Russell Bonneville³, Patricia Allenby⁴, Sameek Roychowdhury⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; These authors contributed equally to this work.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; These authors contributed equally to this work.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; These authors contributed equally to this work.
⁴ Department of Pathology, Division of Autopsy Services, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address: sameek.roychowdhury@osumc.edu.

PMID: 30616752
DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2018.11.004

Abstract

Tumor heterogeneity decreases the effectiveness of anticancer therapies and is an important topic in translational cancer research, given its relevance in clinical oncology. Here, we discuss how rapid research autopsy of cancer patients can elucidate heterogeneity-associated processes including cancer evolution and acquired therapeutic resistance. In practice, rapid research autopsy is performed shortly after a patient's passing to procure multiple metastatic tumor samples for genomic studies through next-generation sequencing and development of patient-derived xenografts or organoids. Mechanistic insights gained from research autopsy studies of cancer patients can help identify new targets for therapeutic intervention. Finally, the success of research autopsy programs is bolstered by collaboration across different medical and scientific disciplines in addition to support from patients and families.

Keywords: rapid research autopsy; translational cancer research; tumor heterogeneity.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Disease Management
Disease Susceptibility
Humans
Neoplasm Grading
Neoplasm Staging
Neoplasms / etiology*
Neoplasms / pathology*
Neoplasms / therapy
Translational Research, Biomedical

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding