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Updated: Nov 19, 2025
A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma DIPG
Published on: March 7, 2017
Overcoming barriers to establishing autopsy procurement programs in pediatric patients with central nervous system
Mariko DeWire1, Craig Erker2, Trent R Hummel3
1Division of Oncology, Department of Pediatrics College of Medicine, Brain Tumor Center, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45229-3026, USA. Mariko.dewire@cchmc.org.
Background:
While autopsy-repository programs with a variety of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumor types are a critical resource for preclinical neuro-oncology research, few exist and there is no published guidance on how to develop one. The goal of this prospective Pediatric Brain Tumor Repository (PBTR) study was to develop such a program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and then publish the quantitative and experiential data as a guide to support the development of similar programs.
Methods:
Protocols and infrastructure were established-to educate oncologists and families, establish eligibility, obtain consent, address pre- and post-autopsy logistics (e.g., patient and tissue transportation), process and authenticate tissue samples, and collect and analyze data.
Results:
Of the 129 pediatric CNS tumor patients at CCHMC who died between 2013 and 2018, 109 were eligible for our study. Of these, 74% (81 of 109) were approached for PBTR donation, and 68% (55 of 81) consented. In the final year of the study, approach and consent rates were 93% and 85%, respectively. Median time from death to autopsy (postmortem interval, PMI) was 10 h (range, 1.5-30). In the outpatient setting, PMI increased with distance (from the hospice/home where the patient died to CCHMC). In all patients, PMI appeared to be lower, when consent was obtained more than 24 h before death.
Conclusions:
Procurement of autopsy specimens need not be a barrier in neuro-oncology research. Regional centers, strict timing-of-consent, patient education, and dedicated staff are all needed to minimize PMI and, thereby, increase the value of the procured tissue for an array of basic and translational research applications.
