SFMR:s företagsstipendium: Victoria Lövljung

Trans-Vessel Wall Cell Transplantation and Tumor Targeting in a Rabbit Model

Abstract
The trans-vessel wall device (TW-device) is a new endovascular tool for precise and safe delivery of various payloads (cells, viral, modified RNA, chemotherapy, growth factors) in oncology and regenerative medicine. The twofold aim of this study was to assess cell engraftment and tumor growth using the TW-device for endovascular transplantation and to evaluate its ability to directly access solid tumors.

We used the VX2 model in the rabbit kidney to compare percutaneously injected fresh VX2 cells to TW-device injections of cryopreserved VX2 cells. We demonstrated the feasibility of endovascular transplantation (n=7) of tumor cells, achieving a 57.1% engraftment rate despite cryo-preservation, comparable to 70% for percutaneous delivery of fresh cells (n=10). Re-access using the TW-device was 100% successful (n=11) with super-selective intratumoral contrast administration without complications.

In conclusion, endovascular transplantation of VX2 cells using the TW-device resulted in proliferating cell grafts in the rabbit kidney establishing functional proof that cells indeed survive handling, preparation and device passage. We also show the TW-device is able to access solid tumor parenchyma allowing precise intraparenchymal administration. This proof of concept study open up possibilities for repeated direct parenchymal injections via the endovascular route in any hard to reach organ.