A Novel Serum-Free Triculture Model of Glioblastoma, Astrocytes, and Macrophages.

ABSTRACT: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and deadly primary brain tumor in adults. While in vitro patient-derived xenografts (PDX) lines are useful for studying GBM, they often exclude astrocytes and macrophages, which contribute significantly to tumor growth, invasion, and chemoradioresistance. Integrating these cells into tumor models is difficult due to their need for serum, which triggers GBM-PDX lines to lose their stem-like properties. The aim of this study was to develop a serum-free triculture model of GBM-PDX lines, normal human astrocytes (NHAs), and macrophages. Serum-free media alternatives were formulated for NHAs and identified for THP-1 macrophages, then combined with GBM PDX media to establish "PSX," an experimental maintenance media. Cells were transitioned to serum-free medi

SUBMITTER: Alrefai H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12524639 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature