The emergence of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models also correlates with a major change in translational oncology. Protheragen's services in PDX model development created a new resource for the advancement of cancer research. With the use of our innovative technologies, unwavering commitment to quality, and expertise in the field, we are helping accelerate the development of novel cancer therapies.
Overview of Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) Models
Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) models are innovative preclinical platforms where fresh tumors from cancer patients are implanted into immunocompromised mice. These models closely maintain the human tumor's histopathological structure, genetic composition, and molecular characteristics, with all the associated tumor heterogeneity and clonal evolution. Unlike traditional cell lines, which often fail to recapitulate human tumor biology, PDX models preserve the tumor microenvironment and tumor evolution, thereby closely mirroring patients' therapeutic responses. PDX models also achieve high engraftment efficiency with long-term serial passaging in immunodeficient NOD/SCID or NSG mice. They have become invaluable in translational oncology, particularly in evaluating drug efficacy, discovering biomarkers, studying resistance mechanisms, and validating therapies.
Fig.1 The advantages of PDX over other models. (Liu Y.,
et al., 2023)
PDX Models for Cancer Therapeutics Development
PDX models provide a high-fidelity translational bridge from preclinical studies to human clinical trials. They allow testing of all classes of therapeutics, including chemotherapy, targeted agents, immunotherapy, and ADCs in real time on tumors that are genetically and phenotypically comparable to the patients' tumors. Currently, breast, colorectal, lung, gastric, pancreatic, and even hematological malignancies are extensively modeled with PDX systems. These models are no longer restricted to subcutaneous orthotopic models; they now include metastatic variants, which are orthotopic and situated within the patient's organ of origin.
Table 1. PDX's successful rates of various tumors were listed over the past 3 years. (Gu A., et al., 2025)
| Tumor type |
Successful rate |
Tumor cell source |
Time (median) |
Mouse strain |
Implantation site |
| Colorectal |
19/36 (52.7%) |
Biopsies
Resected tissue |
111 days |
NSG |
Subcutaneous |
| Esophageal |
| Gastric/gastroesophageal junction |
| Breast |
| Gallbladder |
| Cholangiocarcinoma |
| Small bowel cancer |
| Prostate cancer |
13/63 (20.6%) primary
28/145 (19.3%) metastasis |
Resected primary
Metastasis |
About 2 months |
NOD–SCID |
Renal capsule |
| Cholangiocarcinoma |
19/49 (38.8%) |
Biopsy
Primary tumors
Metastasis |
4.7 months |
NOD/SCID |
Subcutaneous |
| Endometrial cancer |
13/32 (40.6%) |
Resected primary tissue |
- |
NSG |
Subcutaneously |
| Triple negative breast cancer |
62/269 (23%) |
biopsy |
- |
NOD–SCID |
Orthotopic |
| Non-small cell lung cancer |
50% |
Resected primary tissue |
85 days (37–440 days) |
NSG |
Subcutaneous |
Our Services
Protheragen is well prepared to meet the specific demands of its customers by providing a variety of PDX model development services. The creation of PDX models from solid tumors and hematological malignancies is within our capabilities. We offer subcutaneous and orthotopic implantation, which ensures the accurate representation of the tumor microenvironment.
Types of Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) Models
De Novo PDX Generation
Engraftment of freshly resected patient tumor samples (primary or metastatic) into immunodeficient mouse strains for first-generation (F0) establishment, followed by stabilization through serial passaging (F1–F3).
Orthotopic PDX Models
Implantation of tumor tissue into the anatomically correct organ (e.g., brain for gliomas, pancreas for pancreatic cancer), allowing metastasis modeling and evaluation of tumor–stroma–vasculature interactions.
Humanized Immune PDX Models (Hu-PDX)
Incorporation of human immune cells (PBMCs, CD34+ HSCs, or fetal liver/thymus) into PDX-bearing mice to evaluate checkpoint inhibitors, T-cell engagers, and CAR-T therapies in an immuno-oncologic context.
Pre-established PDX Biobank Screening
Access to a curated repository of over 500 validated PDX models across major cancer types for rapid screening of novel agents, pathway inhibitors, and ADCs.
Key Features of Our PDX Model Services
- High Engraftment Success: Optimized protocols and access to diverse mouse strains deliver reliable PDX establishment across solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
- Microenvironment Preservation: Orthotopic and metastatic models maintain organ-specific vasculature and tumor-stroma crosstalk, critical for translational accuracy.
- Genetic Stability: Low passage numbers ensure fidelity to primary tumor genomics, minimizing genetic drift.
- Integrated Omics & Imaging: Genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic characterization, paired with in vivo bioluminescent and PET imaging for real-time tumor tracking.
- Rapid Turnaround & Scalability: Flexible service timelines allow drug screening results within 10-12 weeks, with scalability for large-scale compound libraries.
Choosing Protheragen for your PDX model development needs offers several distinct advantages. Our extensive experience in oncology research and model development ensures that we have the expertise to handle even the most complex projects. Our commitment to innovation and continuous improvement means that we stay at the forefront of technological advancements in the field. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Liu, Yihan, et al."Patient-derived xenograft models in cancer therapy: technologies and applications." Signal Transduction and targeted therapy 8.1 (2023): 160.
- Gu, Ao, et al. "Patient‐derived xenograft model in cancer: establishment and applications." MedComm 6.2 (2025): e70059.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
