Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) are preclinical models of cancer that involve the engraftment of human tumor tissue into immunodeficient mice. PDX models have become an increasingly popular tool in cancer research because they more accurately recapitulate the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of human tumors than traditional cell line models. PDXs are derived directly from patient tumors and are therefore thought to be a more clinically relevant model for drug discovery and personalized medicine.
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that arises from the mesothelial cells that line the body’s internal organs. Mesothelioma is associated with exposure to asbestos, and the incidence of the disease is expected to continue to rise for several decades due to the long latency period between exposure and disease onset. Despite advances in treatment, mesothelioma remains a challenging disease to treat, and there is a need for new therapies.
Mesothelioma cell lines have been used extensively in mesothelioma research to investigate the biology of the disease and to develop new treatments. However, mesothelioma cell lines have several limitations that can impede their use in drug discovery and personalized medicine. One of the main limitations of mesothelioma cell lines is that they can undergo genetic drift and can differ significantly from the original patient tumor. Mesothelioma cell lines can also be difficult to establish and maintain in the laboratory, and they may not accurately reflect the heterogeneity of mesothelioma tumors.
PDX models offer several advantages over mesothelioma cell lines that can help overcome these limitations. First, PDX models are derived directly from patient tumors and therefore more accurately reflect the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the disease. PDX models can also maintain the heterogeneity of the original tumors, making them a more representative model for drug discovery and personalized medicine. PDX models can also be used to study the biology of mesothelioma and to investigate the mechanisms of drug resistance.
PDX models have been used in mesothelioma research to investigate the efficacy of novel treatments and to identify biomarkers that can predict response to therapy. For example, a recent study used PDX models to investigate the efficacy of a novel immunotherapy approach in mesothelioma. The study found that the immunotherapy was effective in treating mesothelioma in PDX models and identified biomarkers that could predict response to therapy in patients.
Another advantage of PDX models is that they can be used to develop personalized treatment strategies for mesothelioma patients. PDX models can be used to test the efficacy of different treatments on individual patient tumors, allowing for the development of personalized treatment plans. PDX models can also be used to identify biomarkers that can predict response to therapy, allowing for the selection of the most effective treatments for individual patients.
In conclusion, PDX models offer several advantages over mesothelioma cell lines in mesothelioma research. PDX models more accurately reflect the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the disease and can maintain the heterogeneity of the original tumors. PDX models can be used to study the biology of mesothelioma, to investigate the mechanisms of drug resistance, and to develop personalized treatment strategies for mesothelioma patients. PDX models are therefore a valuable tool in mesothelioma research and have the potential to accelerate the development of new treatments for this challenging disease.
