Progress towards non-small-cell lung cancer models that represent clinical evolutionary trajectories

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cancer Research
• Translational Medicine

Background:

• Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality globally.
• Despite advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapies, the 5-year survival for advanced NSCLC is less than 20%.
• Accurate preclinical models are crucial for understanding cancer progression and predicting treatment responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing preclinical models for studying non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) evolution.
• To highlight models that mimic disease progression from pre-invasive stages to metastasis.
• To discuss the utility of these models in interrogating NSCLC biology and therapeutic responses.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on preclinical models for NSCLC.
• Inclusion of genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs).
• Inclusion of patient-derived materials: cell lines, primary cultures, explant cultures, and xenografts.

Main Results:

• Various preclinical models are available to study NSCLC.
• These models represent different stages of NSCLC, including pre-invasive, invasive, and metastatic disease.
• Genetically engineered mouse models and patient-derived models offer distinct advantages for specific research questions.

Conclusions:

• Preclinical models are essential tools for advancing NSCLC research.
• A range of models exist, each with strengths for studying specific aspects of NSCLC evolution.
• These models facilitate the investigation of NSCLC progression and the development of novel therapies.