An essential tool for getting research to progress

In response to the need expressed by the region’s medical-scientific community to have available animal models adapted to their research on different cancers, the Tumour Model Laboratory (LMT) was set up in 2008 through the collaboration between the Synergie Lyon Cancer Foundation and the Université Claude Bernard – Lyon 1, with the support of the Cancéropôle Lyon Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (CLARA), INSERM, the Léon Bérard Centre (CLB) and the CNRS.

The laboratory is currently staffed by a senior engineer and three laboratory animal technicians.

Models wholly dedicated to oncology

The aim of the LMT is to provide public research teams with an original and high quality service based on rigorous quality assurance standards. The laboratory proposes a panel of mouse cancer models that mimic different human cancers as closely as possible, and analytical and control systems using high performance imaging. These facilities provide optimal experimental conditions for studying the biology of cancers and testing new therapeutic approaches.

The panel provided by the laboratory includes:

• models presenting a predisposition to develop specific tumours,
• xenograft models with tumours from patients,
• models adapted for the study of immune surveillance and cancer escape mechanisms.

The Tumour Model Laboratory also develops new models intended to improve their predictability in the progression of clinical development.

A key link in the research continuum

In the continuum between fundamental and clinical research desired by the researchers in Lyon and at the Synergie Lyon Cancer Foundation, the LMT permits the continuing evaluation of candidate drugs isolated and optimised by the C3D drug discovery centre, based on the discoveries of the researchers.

The LMT also plays a role in the IMODI (Innovative MODels Initiative) project aimed at developing predictive models in oncology. This facility of the Synergie Lyon Cancer Foundation will produce the xenografts of cancers that particularly interest the Léon Bérard Centre in this project: breast and ovarian cancers. (Lien projet IMODI)

We need high quality preclinical research so that patients can benefit from the advances made in oncology. We have set up a laboratory of highly specific murine models managed by specialised and hyper-competent staff. This facility will make it possible to provide more precise answers to the many questions asked by the scientific community.

Patrick Mehlen, Deputy Director of the Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRCL).