Revolutionising Brain Cancer Research with Living Tissue Models

Brain and nervous system cancers are notoriously difficult to treat, ranking ninth in US cancer mortality despite representing only 1.3 per cent of new diagnoses. A major culprit in this disparity is the inadequacy of current preclinical models, such as animal testing, which frequently misrepresent a drug's potential. Consequently, nearly 90 per cent of drugs validated in these models fail during late-phase clinical trials.

To bridge this gap, scientists are advocating for 'functional precision medicine', a paradigm that introduces 'preclinical trials' using ex vivo patient tumours—living tissue kept alive outside the body. Unlike animal models, these human-based systems can capture the specific biological heterogeneity (variety) found within brain cancers. This method aligns with the FDA’s recent shift to phase out live animal testing. By testing therapies on actual patient tissue, researchers can identify biomarkers and resistance mechanisms early, ensuring that only the most promising treatments advance to clinical trials. This strategy aims to drastically improve trial success rates and expand therapeutic options for patients.