Experimental animal modeling for immuno-oncology.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Immuno-oncology (I/O) has seen rapid advancements with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
• Significant questions remain regarding patient response variability and optimization.
• Effective preclinical models are essential for addressing these I/O challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the development of diverse preclinical animal models for I/O research.
• To discuss the applications and limitations of current I/O models.
• To provide an introductory overview for researchers new to the field, especially in the pharmaceutical industry.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of existing immuno-oncology animal models.
• Analysis of model systems used in I/O drug discovery.
• Evaluation of model relevance for predicting clinical response.

Main Results:

• Identification of various preclinical models utilized in I/O research.
• Discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of different model systems.
• Highlighting the unmet need for more predictive I/O models.

Conclusions:

• A critical need exists for improved and relevant animal models in I/O drug discovery.
• Understanding model limitations is key to advancing novel cancer immunotherapies.
• This review serves as a guide to selecting and utilizing appropriate I/O preclinical models.