Zebrafish Avatar to Develop Precision Breast Cancer Therapies

Area of Science:

• Comparative oncology
• Vertebrate animal models
• Translational cancer research

Background:

• Zebrafish (Danio rerio) serve as a valuable vertebrate model for human tumor studies and drug validation.
• Zebrafish embryos provide rapid in vivo data, aligning with the 3R principles for ethical research.
• Zebrafish xenografts enable in vivo study of tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and host interactions, avoiding immune rejection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in breast cancer research and drug testing utilizing the zebrafish xenograft model.
• To highlight the application of zebrafish xenografts with both cell lines and patient biopsies for breast cancer studies.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing zebrafish xenografts with breast cancer cell lines.
• Employing patient-derived xenografts in zebrafish models.
• Leveraging established zebrafish technologies such as gene editing, omics, in vivo imaging, and high-throughput screening.

Main Results:

• Zebrafish xenografts facilitate the study of tumor biology, including growth, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis.
• The model allows for in vivo drug testing and validation in a relevant biological context.
• Patient-derived xenografts in zebrafish offer a platform for personalized therapeutic strategies.

Conclusions:

• Zebrafish xenografts are a promising platform for translational breast cancer research and personalized therapies.
• Integration of patient-derived xenografts with advanced zebrafish technologies can accelerate precision medicine.
• This model supports the development of tailored treatments for breast cancer patients.