The Princess Margaret Living Biobank (PMLB)

The Princess Margaret Living Biobank (PMLB) is the next generation of biobanks. Beyond primary tissue banking, we expand tumors in immune-deficient mice to cryo-preserve tumors as a renewable resource. Patient-derived models are increasingly recognized as clinically more relevant models to identify the phenotype-genotype association in patient tumors. During early propagation phases, patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDXs) in immune-deficient mouse hosts and organoids (PDO) embedded in Matrigel models mirror the histopathological features of the original patient tumors closely. The PMLB consists of two teams with the expertise to support PDX and PDO models and their combined complimentary use for research studies.

PM Living Biobank (PMLB) is a coordinated effort of researchers and clinicians at UHN to support establishing and using patient-derived tumor models and associated data as a shared resource for research studies. The models are made available following standard operating procedures and quality test requirements, they are annotated with essential clinic-pathological data, and some are molecularly profiled.

The biobank offers robust methods and scientific expertise for PDX studies. The distribution of PDX models includes cryopreserved tissues and derivatives for drug or biomarker discovery studies. We also provide fee-for-service and turnkey services (e.g., model establishment, drug screen) and training.

The availability of annotated models at the clinic-pathological level includes comprehensive molecular profiling that enables researchers to perform preclinical basket oncology trials at a faster rate. We offer a robust preclinical testing platform with more treatment matrixes and unlimited tumor derivatives for studies of the mechanism of action and biomarker discovery compared to clinical trials.