Isolation, Growth, and Characterization of Saudi Explanted Primary Brain Cancer Cells for Drug Discovery Purposes

Brain cancer is a highly aggressive disease with limited treatment options, highlighting the need for reliable preclinical models for drug discovery. This study aimed to isolate and characterize Saudi patient–derived primary brain cancer cells and assess the anticancer activity of novel compounds developed in-house. Sixteen tumor samples from Saudi patients were processed to establish primary brain cancer cultures and One Normal Tissue (Control). The cells were successfully isolated and maintained under optimized conditions, with their morphology and growth characteristics monitored. Molecular analysis confirmed the expression of key tumor and neural markers. The anticancer activity of selected compounds KCO69, KCO70, and KCO129 was tested at various concentrations using the MTT and CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability Assay. All compounds caused a concentration-dependent reduction in cell viability, with the strongest effects seen at 25 µM. Among them, compound 70 showed the most significant antiproliferative activity, while compounds KCO69 and KCO129 exhibited moderate effects. Variability in treatment response among cultures reflected the inherent heterogeneity of patient-derived tumors. Overall, establishing primary brain cancer cell models from Saudi patients offers a valuable platform for preclinical drug screening and supports further research on these compounds as potential therapies for brain cancer.