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Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Testing Cancer Immunotherapeutics in a Humanized Mouse Model Bearing Human Tumors
Published on: December 16, 2022
Humanized Mice as a Valuable Pre-Clinical Model for Cancer Immunotherapy Research
Morgane M Cogels1,2, Redouane Rouas3, Ghanem E Ghanem2
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract:
Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors opened new horizons in cancer treatment. Clinical trials for novel immunotherapies or unexplored combination regimens either need years of development or are simply impossible to perform like is the case in cancer patients with limited life expectancy. Thus, the need for preclinical models that rapidly and safely allow for a better understanding of underlying mechanisms, drug kinetics and toxicity leading to the selection of the best regimen to be translated into the clinic, is of high importance. Humanized mice that can bear both human immune system and human tumors, are increasingly used in recent preclinical immunotherapy studies and represent a remarkably unprecedented tool in this field. In this review, we describe, summarize, and discuss the recent advances of humanized mouse models used for cancer immunotherapy research and the challenges faced during their establishment. We also highlight the lack of preclinical studies using this model for radiotherapy-based research and argue that it can be a great asset to understand and answer many open questions around radiation therapy such as its presumed associated "abscopal effect".
Insights
Humanized mouse models offer a powerful preclinical tool for cancer immunotherapy research, accelerating the understanding of novel treatments and combination regimens. These models are crucial for advancing cancer therapy development and exploring radiation therapy
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Preclinical Research
Background:
- Cancer immunotherapy, particularly with checkpoint inhibitors, has revolutionized treatment paradigms.
- Clinical trials for new immunotherapies face significant time and ethical constraints, especially in patients with limited life expectancy.
- There is a critical need for preclinical models that facilitate rapid, safe evaluation of novel cancer treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in humanized mouse models for cancer immunotherapy research.
- To discuss challenges associated with establishing and utilizing these models.
- To highlight the potential of humanized mice in radiotherapy research, including the abscopal effect.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on humanized mouse models in cancer immunotherapy.
- Analysis of the advantages and limitations of these models.
- Discussion of their application in evaluating drug kinetics, toxicity, and treatment efficacy.
Main Results:
- Humanized mice, capable of bearing both human immune systems and tumors, are increasingly valuable preclinical tools.
- These models enable a better understanding of immunotherapy mechanisms and drug responses.
- A notable gap exists in the application of humanized mice for radiotherapy research.
Conclusions:
- Humanized mouse models represent an unprecedented advancement for preclinical cancer immunotherapy studies.
- Further research utilizing these models is essential for optimizing cancer treatment strategies.
- Humanized mice hold significant promise for investigating radiotherapy and its associated phenomena, like the abscopal effect.
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