Cancer Avatar Project

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models are mouse avatars. When transplanted from a human patient with cancer into a mouse, tumors retain the characteristics of the original specimen. PDX models allow researchers to test multiple drugs and drug combinations, to find the one best suited to individual patients.

California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute  is leading an innovative program to further Sutter Health's cancer precision medicine research in Northern California through the Cancer Avatar Project—a living biology approach to translational research for fully individualized cancer care. Our cancer scientists are working with CPMC oncologists and surgeons to create cell culture and mouse models, or ‘avatars’, of patients’ tumors, which will give oncologists key information about how well a patient’s tumor might respond to a particular chemotherapy regimen. The Cancer Avatar Project has the potential to enable the delivery of truly personalized cancer care.

Our goal is to collect over 100 samples for each of eight common cancers (brain, colorectal, lung, melanoma, ovarian, pancreas, breast, and liver/biliary). Developing this comprehensive library will enable rapid prediction of the most effective treatment for CPMC cancer patients.

Cancer Avatar Project Investigators and Research Areas

Pierre-Yves Desprez, Ph.D. — leads DNA and RNA sequencing and molecular profiling efforts for the Cancer Avatar Project; shared lead on breast cancer; investigates cancer progression.

Mohammed Kashani-Sabet, M.D. — leads melanoma and biomarker efforts for the Cancer Avatar Project; develops diagnostic techniques for malignant melanoma.

Angela Kim, B.S. — supports tissue procurement process with clinical and surgical teams; liaison to tumor boards; consents patients for specimen use in research; collaboration with pathologists and compliance with regulatory mandates.

Mehdi Nosrati — Program Manager of the Cancer Avatar Project: Responsible for staff management and program oversight, workflow processes, SOPs, Q/A & Q/C, integration of clinical and molecular research, data management, budget, IRB, HIPAA, EPIC (eHR), compliance, contracts, partnership with internal and external entities, and reports; Kashani Lab Manager.

Physician Leads

Michael Abel, M.D. — Director of CPMC Colorectal Cancer Center of Excellence; clinical PI (colorectal cancer) for the Cancer Avatar Project.

John Chan, M.D. — Gynecologic Oncology Lead for the Sutter Cancer Research Consortium; clinical PI (ovarian cancer) for the Cancer Avatar Project.

Benson Chen, M.D. — Lung Cancer and Pulmonary Disease Specialist; clinical PI (lung cancer) for the Cancer Avatar Project.

Stephanie Jeske, M.D. — SPMF Oncologist; clinical PI (breast cancer) for the Cancer Avatar Project.

Robert Osorio, M.D. — Department Chief, Transplant Surgery; clinical PI (pancreatic, liver, and biliary cancers) for the Cancer Avatar Project.

Publications

Prevalence of Homologous Recombination Pathway Gene Mutations in Melanoma: Rationale for a New Targeted Therapeutic Approach. Kim KB, Soroceanu L, de Semir D, et al. Invest Dermatol. 2021 Feb 18:S0022-202X(21)00155-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.01.024. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33610559

Dinaciclib, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, suppresses cholangiocarcinoma growth by targeting CDK2/5/9. Saqub H, Proetsch-Gugerbauer H, Bezrookove V, et al. Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 28;10(1):18489. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75578-5.PMID: 33116269

PHIP drives glioblastoma motility and invasion by regulating the focal adhesion complex.
de Semir D, Bezrookove V, Nosrati M, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2020 Apr 21;117(16):9064-9073. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1914505117. Epub 2020 Apr 9.PMID: 32273388

Cannabidiol Treatment Results in a Common Gene Expression Response Across Aggressive Cancer Cells from Various Origins. Desprez P, Murase R, Limbad C, et al. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research 2020. Published Online: 4 Mar 2020https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2019.0081

Drug responses are conserved across patient-derived xenograft models of melanoma leading to identification of novel drug combination therapies. Ice RJ, Chen M, Sidorov M, Le Ho T, et al. Br J Cancer 2020 Mar;122(5):648-657. doi: 10.1038/s41416-019-0696-y. Epub 2019 Dec 20.PMID: 31857724

Tissues Harvested Using an Automated Surgical Approach Confirm Molecular Heterogeneity of Glioblastoma and Enhance Specimen's Translational Research Value. Zusman E, Sidorov M, Ayala A, et al. Front Oncol. 2019 Oct 23;9:1119. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01119. eCollection 2019.PMID: 31750239

Novel tumor suppressor role of miRNA-876 in cholangiocarcinoma. Ursu S, Majid S, Garger C, et al. Oncogenesis 2019 Aug 13;8(8):42. doi: 10.1038/s41389-019-0153-z.PMID: 31409772