Animal models continue to be the basis of study for cancer research, granting critical understanding of tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and response to therapy. Protheragen's cancer animal model development services deliver a strong, flexible framework to increase efficiency in preclinical oncology pipelines.
Overview of Cancer Animal Models
Cancer can be viewed as an evolutionary disease process that involves genomic instability, selective pressure, and evasion of immunological recognition. Recapitulating this scenario in animal models is not a trivial endeavor and requires multi-system approaches. Older models, such as chemically-induced carcinogenesis, have been replaced by more refined methods like patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMs) that model specific oncogenic mutations, tumor heterogeneity, and therapy resistance.
Fig.1 Two commonly used classification methods of cancer animal models. (Li Z.,
et al., 2021)
Current Status of Animal Model Development
The rise in demand for cancer models stems from inadequate preclinical screening, which causes many clinical trial agents to fail. Advancements in cancer modeling have been fueled by genome editing, humanized systems, and immunodeficient strains. There has been a global need for more predictive and translational models.
Key developments include:
- Expansion of humanized immune mouse platforms for immuno-oncology
- Optimization of orthotopic and metastatic models for evaluating tumor invasion
- High-throughput development of PDX libraries from clinical biopsy samples
- Integration of multi-omics profiling to validate genetic fidelity in models
Table 1. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models for cancer research. (Abdolahi S., et al., 2021)
| Tumor histotype |
PDX model |
Treatment/molecular alterations |
Response rate (RR) |
| Breast cancer |
Orthotopic |
Docetaxel, 5-fluorouracil, trastuzumab |
71% |
| Docetaxel, doxorubicin, trastuzumab + Lap |
100% |
| Colorectal cancer |
Heterotopic |
WT KRAS |
100% responded to cetuximab |
| Heterotopic |
Cetuximab, panitumumab |
100% |
| Heterotopic |
Oxaliplatin |
92% |
| Ovarian cancer |
Heterotopic |
Doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, 5-FU |
0–27% |
| Heterotopic |
Cisplatin |
81% |
| Gastric cancer |
Heterotopic |
Regorafenib |
96% |
| Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) |
Heterotopic |
Gemcitabine |
17% |
| Non-small cell lung cancer |
Heterotopic |
EGFR mutated |
10% responded to gefitinib |
Our Services
At Protheragen, our platform for cancer animal model development is designed to provide tailored solutions for drug discovery, mechanism elucidation, and precision medicine validation. Our scientists harness decades of expertise in oncology modeling, leveraging cutting-edge genetic engineering, transplantation technologies, and molecular profiling to develop clinically relevant animal systems.
Syngeneic Tumor Models
- B16-F10 melanoma in C57BL/6 mice
- 4T1 breast cancer in BALB/c mice
- MC38 colon carcinoma for anti-PD-1 studies
Orthotopic Tumor Models
- Orthotopic glioblastoma via intracranial injection
- Orthotopic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
- Orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma with luciferase labeling
Cancer Cachexia Models
- C26 colon carcinoma-bearing BALB/c mice
- LLC tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice
- TNBC-induced cachexia with sarcopenia analysis
Customized Animal Models
Protheragen offers customized animal model development services to support cancer therapy research. We create tailored models that closely mimic human cancer, providing reliable preclinical data to accelerate the development of new therapeutics.
Service Features
- Customized Model Design: Tailored protocols based on tumor type, genetic mutations, and experimental goals.
- Full Workflow Integration: From tumor procurement, model generation, monitoring, treatment, to sample analysis.
- Advanced Imaging Capabilities: Fluorescent, bioluminescent, and MRI-based tracking for orthotopic and metastatic models.
- Molecular Profiling: Whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, and proteomics to validate model fidelity.
- Immunological Monitoring: Flow cytometry, ELISA, cytokine panels, and IHC staining to characterize immune landscapes.
With a proven track record, customizable options, and comprehensive data support, our models serve as the cornerstone for drug discovery, immunotherapy validation, and personalized medicine advancement. In an industry where precision and relevance are paramount, Protheragen delivers modeling systems that are not only scientifically rigorous but also aligned with clinical outcomes. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Li, Zhitao, et al. "Application of animal models in cancer research: recent progress and future prospects." Cancer Management and Research (2021): 2455-2475.
- Sajjad, Humna, et al. "Cancer models in preclinical research: A chronicle review of advancement in effective cancer research." Animal models and experimental medicine 4.2 (2021): 87-103.
- Abdolahi, Shahrokh, et al. "Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, applications and challenges in cancer research." Journal of Translational Medicine 20.1 (2022): 206.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
