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Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDX)
Capturing Human Tumor Heterogeneity and Complexity
Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDX) are preclinical models that have become established as some of the most representative of human tumor biology. They involve the direct implantation of fresh tumor tissue, obtained from human patients, into immunodeficient mice (commonly strains like NSG or NOG, which lack a functional immune system to prevent rejection of human tissue). This implantation allows the tumor to grow and develop in an in vivo environment, retaining many of the key characteristics of the original tumor.
Precision Medicine in a Living Model
The fundamental objective of PDX models is to faithfully reproduce the individual tumor biology of a patient, including its genetic complexity, cellular heterogeneity, and interaction with its microenvironment. By maintaining these essential characteristics, PDXs become an invaluable platform for precision medicine, allowing for the testing of drug responses in a model that closely resembles the patient’s tumor, before applying treatment in humans.
Towards Individualized Therapies
Modeling Personalized Tumor Biology
They form the basis for the development of precision medicine, enabling the selection of the most appropriate treatments for a patient or group of patients with similar molecular profiles.
Preclinical Drug Testing with High Translational Relevance
They offer a platform to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of new drugs and therapeutic combinations in a context that better reflects the diversity and complexity of human tumors.
Identification of Response and Resistance Biomarkers
They facilitate the discovery of biomarkers that predict treatment response or the emergence of resistance, which is crucial for guiding clinical decisions.
Study of Tumor Heterogeneity and Clonal Evolution
They allow for the investigation of how tumor cell populations evolve over time and in response to treatment, helping to understand resistance.
Combination with Human Immune Cell Engraftment
For certain applications, PDXs can be combined with the reconstitution of the human immune system in the mouse, enabling the study of the interaction between the patient’s tumor and immunological therapies.
Available Models
PDX for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
These models are driven by the overexpression of the MYC oncogene, a key factor in the proliferation and survival of myeloma cells. They are ideal for studying aggressive myelomas and responses to therapies affecting MYC pathways.
