[Research advances in preclinical models of oral mucosal melanoma]

Oral mucosal melanoma (OMM), a subtype of melanoma which is commonly found in the eastern Asian populations, progresses with unclear pathogenesis, high malignancy and poor prognosis. Constructing different types of preclinical models for OMM, which simulate clinical characteristics such as tumor invasion and metastasis, assists screening and efficacy-evaluation of drugs. This would promote personalized treatments for patients with OMM. However, lack of preclinical models makes one of the critical obstacles that hinder the recognition of mucosal melanoma and block the treatment breakthrough in mucosal melanoma. In recent years, certain progress has been made in the construction and application of OMM preclinical models. Various OMM preclinical models have been successfully constructed and carried out for further research, assisting in excavating personalized treatment strategies. In this review, we will summarize the latest progress in the researches on OMM preclinical models.