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Athymic nude mice as an experimental model for cancer treatment
I Szadvari1, O Krizanova, P Babula
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. babula@med.muni.cz.
Abstract:
Athymic nude mice, a murine strain bearing spontaneous deletion in the Foxn1 gene that causes deteriorated or absent thymus (which results in inhibited immune system with reduction of number of T cells), represent a widely used model in cancer research having long lasting history as a tool for preclinical testing of drugs. The review describes three models of athymic mice that utilize cancer cell lines to induce tumors. In addition, various methods that can be applied in order to evaluate activity of anticancer agents in these models are shown and discussed. Although each model has certain disadvantages, they are still considered as inevitable instruments in many fields of cancer research, particularly in finding new drugs that would more effectively combat the cancer disease or enhance the use of current chemotherapy. Finally, the review summarizes strengths and weaknesses as well as future perspectives of the athymic nude mice model in cancer research.
Insights
Athymic nude mice, lacking a thymus, are crucial for cancer research and preclinical drug testing. This review covers models, evaluation methods, and the strengths and weaknesses of this essential research tool.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Athymic nude mice possess a defective thymus due to a Foxn1 gene deletion, leading to an impaired immune system with reduced T cells.
- These mice are a long-established and widely utilized model in cancer research for preclinical drug evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review established athymic nude mouse models for tumor induction using cancer cell lines.
- To discuss various methods for evaluating anticancer agent activity within these models.
- To summarize the strengths, weaknesses, and future perspectives of athymic nude mice in cancer research.
Main Methods:
- Description of three distinct athymic nude mouse models employing cancer cell lines for tumor xenografting.
- Discussion of diverse methodologies for assessing the efficacy of anticancer agents in vivo.
- Comprehensive review of existing literature on athymic nude mouse applications in cancer research.
Main Results:
- Athymic nude mouse models, despite inherent limitations, remain indispensable for cancer research.
- These models facilitate the preclinical testing of novel anticancer drugs and the enhancement of existing chemotherapies.
- The review consolidates critical insights into the utility and application of these mice.
Conclusions:
- Athymic nude mice are vital instruments in cancer research, particularly for drug discovery and development.
- Understanding their strengths and weaknesses is crucial for optimizing their use in preclinical studies.
- Future research should continue to leverage and refine these models for advancing cancer treatment strategies.
