Development of a patient-derived zebrafish xenograft model for glioblastoma

Title : Development of a patient-derived zebrafish xenograft model for glioblastoma

Abstract:

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor, characterized by rapid proliferation, diffuse infiltration, and resistance to conventional therapies, resulting in poor patient prognosis (Figure 1). Preclinical evaluation of GBM relies heavily on rodent xenograft models; however, these systems are costly, labor-intensive, and often limit high-throughput applications. To address these challenges, we developed a zebrafish xenograft platform as a complementary in vivo model for studying glioblastoma biology. Human glioblastoma cell lines U87 (GFP-labeled) and U251 (mCherry-labeled) were transplanted into zebrafish embryos, enabling real-time visualization of tumor dynamics, including proliferation, migration, and angiogenic interactions within a transparent host environment. This approach further provides a rapid and scalable system for testing therapeutic compounds and assessing tumor responses. By leveraging the advantages of zebrafish—optical accessibility, genetic tractability, and cost-effectiveness—this study establishes a versatile preclinical model that bridges the gap between in vitro assays and mammalian systems, with potential to accelerate glioblastoma research and drug discovery.

Biography:

I am a biomedical researcher with experience using zebrafish models to study cancer biology and translational medicine. My work includes developing orthotopic xenograft models for glioblastoma and investigating experimental controls relevant to aquatic animal health and husbandry. I am interested in the use of aquaculture and aquatic model organisms to address challenges in both human health and aquaculture systems, particularly through innovative disease modeling and translational research approaches.