Abstract: The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring the progression of an individual patient malignancy. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for identifying cellular and secreted markers, for screening cells to detect phenotypic and genotypic drift and for predicting chemotherapeutic response of patient tumor cells to at least one therapeutic agent. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein also represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for screening multiple pharmaceutical agents for efficacy and long term effect as to a specific patient.

Abstract: The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring the progression of an individual patient malignancy. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for identifying cellular and secreted markers, for screening cells to detect phenotypic and genotypic drift and for predicting chemotherapeutic response of patient tumor cells to at least one therapeutic agent. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein also represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for screening multiple pharmaceutical agents for efficacy and long term effect as to a specific patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for individualizing chemotherapy for cancer treatment, and particularly for evaluating a patient's responsiveness to one or more epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors prior to treatment with such agents. Particularly, the invention provides an in vitro chemoresponse assay for predicting a patient's response to a monoclonal EGFR antibody, such as cetuximab. The method generally comprises culturing malignant cells from a patient's specimen (e.g., biopsy specimen), contacting the cultured cells with a monoclonal EGFR antibody that is a candidate treatment for the patient, and evaluating the cultured cells for a response to the drug. In certain embodiments, monolayer(s) of malignant cells are cultured from explants prepared by mincing tumor tissue, and the cells of the monolayer are suspended and plated for chemosenstivity testing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of evaluating the angiogenic potential of a tumor, and for predicting the efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapies on an individualized basis. The method of the invention involves preparing an angiogenic signature for malignant cells in culture by assaying for the presence or level of one or more angiogenesis-related factors selected from VEGF/VPF, IL8/CXCL8, TGF-?1, TGF-?2, TGF-?3, bFGF/FGF-2, EGF, PDGF-AA, PDGF-AA/BB, IP-10, and Flt-3 ligand. The angiogenic signature may be prepared from cultures maintained under normoxic and/or hypoxic environments. The invention may be used in conjunction with chemoresponse testing of anti-tumor agents, to predict or suggest a combination therapy for cancer patients.

Abstract: The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring the progression of an individual patient malignancy. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for identifying cellular and secreted markers, for screening cells to detect phenotypic and genotypic drift and for predicting chemotherapeutic response of patient tumor cells to at least one therapeutic agent. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein also represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for screening multiple pharmaceutical agents for efficacy and long term effect as to a specific patient.

Abstract: The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring the progression of an individual patient malignancy. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for identifying cellular and secreted markers, for screening cells to detect phenotypic and genotypic drift and for predicting chemotherapeutic response of patient tumor cells to at least one therapeutic agent. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein also represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for screening multiple pharmaceutical agents for efficacy and long term effect as to a specific patient.

Abstract: The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring the progression of an individual patient malignancy. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for identifying cellular and secreted markers, for screening cells to detect phenotypic and genotypic drift and for predicting chemotherapeutic response of patient tumor cells to at least one therapeutic agent. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein also represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for screening multiple pharmaceutical agents for efficacy and long term effect as to a specific patient.