Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Establishment and Characterization of Patient-Derived Xenograft Models of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: June 2, 2023
Xenograft models of head and neck cancers
Daisuke Sano1, Jeffrey N Myers
1Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M, D, Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA. dsano@mdanderson.org
Abstract:
Head and neck cancers are among the most prevalent tumors in the world. Despite advances in the treatment of head and neck tumors, the survival of patients with these cancers has not markedly improved over the past several decades because of our inability to control and our poor understanding of the regional and distant spread of this disease. One of the factors contributing to our poor understanding may be the lack of reliable animal models of head and neck cancer metastasis. The earliest xenograft models in which human tumor cells were grown in immunosuppressed mice involved subcutaneous implantation of human head and neck cancer cell lines. Subcutaneous xenograft models have been popular because they are easy to establish, easy to manage, and lend themselves to ready quantitation of the tumor burden. More recently, orthotopic xenograft models, in which the tumor cells are implanted in the tumor site of origin, have been used with greater frequency in animal studies of head and neck cancers. Orthotopic xenograft models are advantageous for their ability to mimic local tumor growth and recapitulate the pathways of metastasis seen in human head and neck cancers. In addition, recent innovations in cell labeling techniques and small-animal imaging have enabled investigators to monitor the metastatic process and quantitate the growth and spread of orthopically implanted tumors. This review summarizes the progress in the development of murine xenograft models of head and neck cancers. We then discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type of xenograft model. We also discuss the potential for these models to help elucidate the mechanisms of regional and distant metastasis, which could improve our ability to treat head and neck cancers.
Insights
Developing reliable animal models is crucial for understanding head and neck cancer metastasis. Orthotopic xenografts offer a more accurate representation of human disease spread compared to subcutaneous models.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Translational Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- Head and neck cancers are prevalent globally, with limited survival improvements due to poor understanding of metastasis.
- Existing animal models may not accurately reflect the complex spread patterns of these tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the progress in developing murine xenograft models for head and neck cancers.
- To compare the advantages and disadvantages of different xenograft models.
- To highlight the potential of these models in elucidating cancer metastasis mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on head and neck cancer xenograft models.
- Comparison of subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft implantation techniques.
- Discussion of advancements in cell labeling and small-animal imaging for metastasis tracking.
Main Results:
- Subcutaneous xenografts are easy to establish but may not mimic natural tumor spread.
- Orthotopic xenografts better replicate local tumor growth and metastatic pathways.
- Innovations in imaging facilitate monitoring of tumor progression and metastasis in vivo.
Conclusions:
- Orthotopic xenograft models are superior for studying head and neck cancer metastasis.
- Further development and application of these models can enhance understanding of cancer spread.
- Improved mechanistic insights may lead to better therapeutic strategies for head and neck cancers.
