Charles River Highlights 3D Tumoroids, AI, and Humanised Mice In Expanded Cancer Research Portfolio

Charles River Laboratories shared updates on its broad oncology R&D portfolio, highlighting efforts to accelerate the discovery of cancer treatments amid rising global cancer rates. The company is advancing a fully human platform using innovative tools like 3D tumoroids derived from patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, 2D immune-mediated tumour-killing assays, and humanised mouse models. Presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research® (AACR) Annual Meeting in Chicago conference will showcase how these models help improve translatability and precision in cancer drug development. 

“Having worked on over 80 per cent of the FDA-approved cancer therapies over the last five years, Charles River has a well-established track record of delivering innovative solutions for oncology researchers,” said Julia Schueler, DVM, PhD, Therapeutic Area Lead, Oncology, Charles River. “We are consistently looking for ways to leverage new technologies and techniques to enhance our ability to deliver life-changing therapeutics to patients.”

In addition to its in vitro and in vivo platforms, Charles River is exploring the tumour microenvironment (TME) to understand immune responses and tumour progression. Through a partnership with Cypre, researchers gain access to advanced 3D hydrogel tumour models that mirror the complexity of the human TME. This synergy enables more accurate preclinical screening of immuno-oncology therapies. 

In collaboration with Revvity, Charles River is applying deep learning for automatic volumetric segmentation of organs in 3D ultrasound images, reducing manual variability. A partnership with Aitia also enables the creation of virtual control groups using PDX data, helping minimise the need for live animal controls and supporting ethical research practices.