Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
Generation of Subcutaneous and Intrahepatic Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Xenografts in Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: September 25, 2013
Patient-derived human tumour tissue xenografts in immunodeficient mice: a systematic review
Ketao Jin1, Lisong Teng, Yanping Shen
1Department of Surgical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Abstract:
Mouse cancer models have consistently been used to qualify new anticancer drugs in the development of human clinical trials. Rodent tumour models currently being used and which include transgenic tumour models, and those generated by planting human tumour cell lines subcutaneously in immunodeficient mice, do not sufficiently represent clinical cancer characteristics, especially with regard to metastasis and drug sensitivity. The increasingly used patient-derived human tumour tissue (PDTT) xenografts models implanted subcutaneously or in subrenal capsule in immunodeficient mice, such as athymic nude mice or severe combined immunedeficient (SCID) mice, may provide a more accurate reflection of human tumour biological characteristics than tumour cell lines. The ability to passage patients' fresh tumour tissues into large numbers of immunodeficient mice provides possibilities for better preclinical testing of new therapies for the treatment and better outcome for cancer. In this review, we outline the methods of establishing xenograft models, discuss the biological stability of PDTT xenograft models and demonstrate their roles in developing new anticancer drugs and testing therapeutic regimens in cancer patients.
Insights
Patient-derived tumor tissue (PDTT) xenografts in mice better mimic human cancer than traditional models. These models offer improved preclinical testing for new anticancer drugs and therapies, leading to better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Preclinical drug development
- Cancer research
Background:
- Traditional mouse cancer models (transgenic, cell line xenografts) inadequately represent human tumor characteristics, particularly metastasis and drug sensitivity.
- Existing models often fail to accurately predict clinical trial outcomes for novel anticancer agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the establishment and application of patient-derived tumor tissue (PDTT) xenografts in cancer research.
- To highlight the advantages of PDTT xenografts over traditional models for preclinical anticancer drug evaluation.
- To discuss the biological stability and utility of PDTT xenografts in developing new cancer therapies.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on the establishment of PDTT xenograft models in immunodeficient mice (e.g., athymic nude, SCID).
- Analysis of studies comparing PDTT xenografts with traditional tumor models regarding biological fidelity.
- Examination of PDTT xenograft applications in preclinical testing of anticancer drugs and therapeutic regimens.
Main Results:
- PDTT xenografts provide a more accurate reflection of human tumor biology, including metastasis and drug sensitivity, compared to cell line xenografts.
- The ability to generate multiple PDTT xenografts from patient tumors facilitates large-scale preclinical testing.
- PDTT xenografts demonstrate significant potential for improving the prediction of therapeutic efficacy in cancer patients.
Conclusions:
- PDTT xenografts represent a valuable advancement in preclinical cancer research, offering enhanced predictive power for drug development.
- These models are crucial for optimizing the selection of anticancer drugs and therapeutic strategies for clinical trials.
- The use of PDTT xenografts holds promise for improving treatment outcomes and patient care in oncology.
