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Project investigates interaction between tumor and brain cells / Human tissue models enable research that previously required animal experiments

A newly approved research project at the Department of Neurosurgery at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg is dedicated to researching meningiomas, a common form of brain tumor. The aim of the study, which starts on November 1, 2024, is to better understand the interaction between these tumors and glial cells, which are an important part of the brain's microenvironment. The project uses innovative methods based on human tissue models to reduce the use of animal experiments. The research results could be groundbreaking for the development of new, more precise therapeutic approaches. The project is funded by the Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection as part of the "Alternative and Complementary Methods to Animal Testing" program.

"This study can bring us a decisive step closer to a deeper understanding of meningiomas and their environment in the brain," says Dr. Vidhya Madapusi Ravi, head of the project and the 3D brain model research group at the Department of Neurosurgery at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. "By using human tissue samples instead of animal models, we can achieve more precise results and at the same time make an important contribution to animal welfare."

Glial cells as the key to tumor development

Meningiomas are usually benign brain tumors that originate from cells in the meninges. Symptoms such as headaches, neurological deficits or visual disturbances often only appear late. Treatment, usually surgical removal or radiotherapy, depends on the size, location and growth behavior.

The researchers led by Ravi and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Beck, Medical Director of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, are particularly interested in the role of glial cells, which have numerous functions in the brain, including the supply of nutrients to nerve cells. They also interact with tumor cells and could therefore have an influence on tumor growth and spread. The aim is to find out how these cells communicate with each other and whether this could contribute to the development of new therapies.

Research approach without animal testing

The study focuses on the use of human tissue that is removed during surgical procedures anyway, for example during epilepsy or glioblastoma operations. "Our research deals with the cultivation of long-lived tissue cultures outside the body in order to better understand neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors," says Ravi. This approach makes it possible to develop models that are closer to human biology than animal models, while reducing the use of animal testing.

Caption: Tiny samples of the cerebral cortex, which are obtained during routine operations anyway, are cultivated in the laboratory. This makes them particularly suitable for complex experiments.
Copyright: Medical Center - University of Freiburg