Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, applications and challenges in cancer research
Shahrokh Abdolahi, Zeinab Ghazvinian, Samad Muhammadnejad, Mahshid Saleh, Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei, Kaveh Baghaei
Abstract
The establishing of the first cancer models created a new perspective on the identification and evaluation of new anti-cancer therapies in preclinical studies. Patient-derived xenograft models are created by tumor tissue engraftment. These models accurately represent the biology and heterogeneity of different cancers and recapitulate tumor microenvironment. These features have made it a reliable model along with the development of humanized models. Therefore, they are used in many studies, such as the development of anti-cancer drugs, co-clinical trials, personalized medicine, immunotherapy, and PDX biobanks. This review summarizes patient-derived xenograft models development procedures, drug development applications in various cancers, challenges and limitations.