Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Generation of Prostate Cancer Patient Derived Xenograft Models from Circulating Tumor Cells
Published on: October 20, 2015
A Feasibility Study of Co-Established Patient-Derived Subcutaneous Xenograft and Organotypic Slice Cultures in
Valeria Pecci1, Melissa Borsa1, Aurora Aiello2
1Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Background:
Preclinical models that preserve the tumor microenvironment are critically needed in prostate cancer (PCa) research. Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and patient-derived Organotypic Slice Cultures (PD-OSCs) have emerged as promising in vivo and ex vivo platforms to address this gap and better mimic human tumor biology.
Methods:
Subcutaneous PDX models and PD-OSCs were established in parallel from fresh, primary hormone-naïve PCa patient tissues. PDX models were generated by engrafting tumor fragments into immunodeficient mice, while PD-OSCs were maintained as short-term ex vivo cultures for functional analysis.
Results:
A cohort of 64 PDXs and 45 PD-OSCs was generated. While first-generation PDX engraftment was successful, subsequent passaging and model expansion were extremely poor. In contrast, PD-OSCs were reliably established, maintained tissue viability, and proved to be a robust platform for functional testing, including gene expression analysis and drug sensitivity screening.
Conclusions:
Our findings establish both first-generation PDXs and PD-OSCs as valuable "avatar" models for translational research. However, PD-OSCs represent a more efficient and rapid platform for studying primary hormone-naïve PCa biology and evaluating treatment responses, holding significant promise as a predictive tool to guide personalized medicine.
