Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, applications and challenges in cancer research

• Published in: Journal of translational medicine Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 206 - 15
• Main Authors: Abdolahi, Shahrokh, Ghazvinian, Zeinab, Muhammadnejad, Samad, Saleh, Mahshid, Asadzadeh Aghdaei, Hamid, Baghaei, Kaveh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 10.05.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Animal models in research; Animals; Antitumor agents; Avatar model of cancer; Cancer; Cancer animal model; Cancer research; Cancer therapies; Chemotherapy; Clinical trials; COVID-19; Disease Models, Animal; Drug development; Drugs; Gene expression; Heterografts; Humanized model; Humans; Immune system; Immunotherapy; Medical research; Neoplasms - pathology; Patient outcomes; Patients; PDX; Precision medicine; Precision Medicine - methods; Preclinical study; Prevention; Review; Success; Transplants & implants; Tumor Microenvironment; Tumors; Validity; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; Xenografts; Xenotransplantation; United States; Preclinical study; Humanized model; PDX; Avatar model of cancer; Cancer animal model
• ISSN: 1479-5876; 1479-5876
• DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03405-8

The establishing of the first cancer models created a new perspective on the identification and evaluation of new anti-cancer therapies in preclinical studies. Patient-derived xenograft models are created by tumor tissue engraftment. These models accurately represent the biology and heterogeneity of different cancers and recapitulate tumor microenvironment. These features have made it a reliable model along with the development of humanized models. Therefore, they are used in many studies, such as the development of anti-cancer drugs, co-clinical trials, personalized medicine, immunotherapy, and PDX biobanks. This review summarizes patient-derived xenograft models development procedures, drug development applications in various cancers, challenges and limitations.