Abstract 6184: Site-specific tumor modeling: DIPG and meningioma in mice

Abstract Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and meningioma are central nervous system tumors where anatomical location critically influences disease behavior and therapeutic response. To investigate this impact, we have developed and compared preclinical models using SF8628-GFP+/Luc+ (DIPG) and Ben-Men-1-Luc (meningioma) across three inoculation sites: (1) clinically relevant locations (pons for DIPG; skull base for meningioma), (2) general intracranial sites, and (3) subcutaneous sites. Tumor progression was monitored longitudinally using bioluminescence imaging and confirmed by histopathology. This study sought to determine how site-specific microenvironments affect growth kinetics, infiltration patterns, and imaging characteristics. Understanding these differences is essential for drug development, as orthotopic models better replicate blood-brain barrier constraints, tumor vascularization, and local tissue interactions that influence therapeutic delivery and efficacy. Citation Format: Melissa Tran, Cheryl Davis, Ben Hoerner, Victoria Caruso, Helen Ketteringham, Corrine Silvio, Shannan Paul, Chris Holding, Aliccia Koznecki, Dawn Lusk, Shorena Nadaraia-Hoke, Delaney McCormick, Jocelyn Saurbaugh. Site-specific tumor modeling: DIPG and meningioma in mice [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 6184.