Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models have become an indispensable tool in cancer research and therapy development. These models involve implanting human tumor tissues into immunocompromised or humanized mice, allowing researchers to study cancer biology and treatment responses in a living organism. This article delves into the technologies and applications of PDX models, highlighting their benefits, challenges, and future prospects.
PDX models are created by engrafting tumor tissues from cancer patients into immunodeficient mice. These models maintain the histological and genetic characteristics of the original tumors, making them highly valuable for studying cancer behavior and testing therapeutic interventions. Unlike traditional cell line models, PDX models preserve the tumor microenvironment, including the interactions between cancer cells and the surrounding stromal cells, which are crucial for accurate drug testing and cancer research.
The development of PDX models involves several key steps:
Recent advancements have introduced humanized PDX models, where human immune cells are introduced into the mice, creating a more accurate representation of human tumor-immune system interactions. This innovation is particularly useful for studying immunotherapies and their effects on cancer.
PDX models have a wide range of applications in cancer research and therapy development:
While PDX models offer many advantages, they also come with challenges:
Future advancements in PDX model technology are likely to focus on improving the efficiency of model development, enhancing the representation of the human immune system, and integrating multi-omics approaches to gain deeper insights into cancer biology. The continued evolution of PDX models holds great promise for advancing personalized cancer therapy and improving patient outcomes.
PDX models are a powerful tool in cancer research, offering a bridge between laboratory studies and clinical applications. By preserving the characteristics of human tumors and enabling detailed studies of drug responses and resistance mechanisms, PDX models are paving the way for more effective and personalized cancer treatments. The ongoing development and refinement of these models will undoubtedly continue to enhance our understanding of cancer and drive the discovery of new therapies.
For more detailed information, refer to the original paper: Patient-derived xenograft models in cancer therapy: technologies and applications, Yihan Lui et. al, from Signal Transduction and targeted Therapy.
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