Method for selecting cancer treatment regimen

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for selecting a cancer treatment regimen for a subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method for selecting a cancer treatment regimen for a subject, comprising: 
 (a) administering cancer cells from the subject to a microfluidic chamber that recapitulates the cancer microenvironment and comprises a linear drug gradient across the chamber;   (b) identifying cell death induced by the drug across the drug gradient at one or more time points;   (c) collecting parameters from the assay to generate a multi-parameter model that summarizes the response of the subject to the drug treatment; and   (d) selecting a cancer treatment regimen for the subject based on the results of the multi-parameter model.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the microfluidic chamber comprises extracellular matrix, subject-derived stroma, and growth factors to recapitulate the cancer microenvironment. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein step (b) comprises:
 (a) collecting a first bright field image of a cancer cell at a first time;   (b) collecting a second bright field image of a cancer cell at a second time; and   (c) applying an algorithm to the first and second images to identify the presence or absence of cell membrane motion; 
wherein the absence of cell membrane motion indicates cell death. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein less than 20,000 cancer cells are used for the assay. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein only bright field imaging is used to identify cell death. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein cell death is identified at two or more time points for the same cancer cells. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the method predicts the initial response to a drug. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the method predicts the chance of progression-free survival. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the assay allows for assessment of environment-mediated drug resistance. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a combination of drugs is tested. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a dosing schedule of the drug is tested. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the cancer is a hematological cancer. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the cancer is multiple myeloma. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the sample is a bone marrow aspirate. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the drug comprises melphalan, bortezomib, FAM-HYD-1, or combinations thereof.