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Updated: Jul 8, 2025
Orthotopic Injection of Breast Cancer Cells into the Mammary Fat Pad of Mice to Study Tumor Growth.
Published on: February 8, 2015
Current views on in vivo models for breast cancer research and related drug development
Tiago Ferreira1,2, Tiago Azevedo1,2, Jessica Silva1,2
1Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
Introduction:
Animal models play a crucial role in breast cancer research, in particular mice and rats, who develop mammary tumors that closely resemble their human counterparts. These models allow the study of mechanisms behind breast carcinogenesis, as well as the efficacy and safety of new, and potentially more effective and advantageous therapeutic approaches. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each model is crucial to select the most appropriate one for the research purpose.
Area Covered:
This review provides a concise overview of the animal models available for breast cancer research, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each one for searching new and more effective approaches to treatments for this type of cancer.
Expert Opinion:
Rodent models provide valuable information on the genetic alterations of the disease, the tumor microenvironment, and allow the evaluation of the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. However, in vivo models have limitations, and one of them is the fact that they do not fully mimic human diseases. Choosing the most suitable model for the study purpose is crucial for the development of new therapeutic agents that provide better care for breast cancer patients.
