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Updated: Sep 28, 2025
Intratibial Osteosarcoma Cell Injection to Generate Orthotopic Osteosarcoma and Lung Metastasis Mouse Models
Published on: October 28, 2021
Canine and murine models of osteosarcoma
Jessica Beck1, Ling Ren1, Shan Huang1
1National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
Abstract:
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant bone tumor in children. Despite efforts to develop and implement new therapies, patient outcomes have not measurably improved since the 1980s. Metastasis continues to be the main source of patient mortality, with 30% of cases developing metastatic disease within 5 years of diagnosis. Research models are critical in the advancement of cancer research and include a variety of species. For example, xenograft and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models provide opportunities to study human tumor cells in vivo while transgenic models have offered significant insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying OS development. A growing recognition of naturally occurring cancers in companion species has led to new insights into how veterinary patients can contribute to studies of cancer biology and drug development. The study of canine cases, including the use of diagnostic tissue archives and clinical trials, offers a potential mechanism to further canine and human cancer research. Advancement in the field of OS research requires continued development and appropriate use of animal models. In this review, animal models of OS are described with a focus on the mouse and tumor-bearing pet dog as parallel and complementary models of human OS.
Insights
Osteosarcoma (OS) research needs better animal models. This review explores mouse and pet dog models, highlighting their complementary roles in advancing human OS understanding and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Oncology
- Comparative Pathology
Background:
- Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common pediatric bone cancer.
- Current therapies have not improved patient outcomes since the 1980s.
- Metastasis remains the primary cause of mortality in OS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current animal models for osteosarcoma research.
- To emphasize the value of both mouse and canine models.
- To highlight the potential of comparative oncology in OS studies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on osteosarcoma animal models.
- Discussion of xenograft, PDX, and transgenic mouse models.
- Exploration of naturally occurring canine osteosarcoma cases.
Main Results:
- Mouse models (xenograft, PDX, transgenic) offer insights into OS biology.
- Naturally occurring canine OS provides a valuable translational model.
- Both models are critical for advancing OS research.
Conclusions:
- Continued development and use of diverse animal models are essential for osteosarcoma research.
- Canine osteosarcoma models complement mouse models, offering unique translational opportunities.
- Comparative oncology approaches can accelerate the development of novel OS therapies.
