Pediatric brain and central nervous system tumors are among the leading causes of disease-related death in children in the United States each year. Traditional models, such as patient-derived orthotopic xenografts, retain tumor features but are expensive and time-intensive to establish.

“Some patient-derived tumor models can take months to develop, which slows research and increases costs,” said corresponding author Martine Roussel, Ph.D., St. Jude Department of Tumor Cell Biology. “By developing lab-grown tumor organoids that truly reflect the original tumors they came from, we created a faster, more accessible way for researchers to study these tumors and test potential therapies.”