Application of Animal Models in Cancer Research: Recent Progress and Future Prospects

Abstract

Animal models refers to the animal experimental objects and related materials that can simulate human body established in medical research. As the second-largest disease in terms of morbidity and mortality after cardiovascular disease, cancer has always been the focus of human attention all over the world, which makes it a research hotspot in the medical field. At the same time, more and more animal models have been constructed and used in cancer research. With the deepening of research, the construction methods of cancer animal models are becoming more and more diverse, including chemical induction, xenotransplantation, gene programming, and so on. In recent years, patient-derived xenotransplantation (PDX) model has become a research hotspot because it can retain the microenvironment of the primary tumor and the basic characteristics of cells. Animal models can be used not only to study the biochemical and physiological processes of the occurrence and development of cancer in objects but also for the screening of cancer drugs and the exploration of gene therapy. In this paper, several main tumor animal models and the application progress of animal models in tumor research are systematically reviewed. Finally, combined with the latest progress and development trend in this field, the future research of tumor animal model was prospected.

Alginate-based 3D cell culture technique to evaluate the half-maximal inhibitory concentration: an in vitro model of anticancer drug study for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

“…Therefore, suitable cell culture systems would additionally decrease the requirement for animal trials, particularly for drug toxicity assays [ 21 ]. However, the importance of animal models cannot be underestimated in biochemical and physiological studies, cancer research, and drug screening [ 22 ].…”

Gene editing and its applications in biomedicine

“…There will be large animal models and potential target genes available in the future. Thus far, mice and zebrafish are the two main species that have been leveraged to produce models for cancer research (Li et al, 2021d). There will be more large animal studies and novel genes to be targeted in the future.…”

Experimental Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma—A Preclinical Perspective

“…Animal models are well-established research tools used to study human diseases, building an important bridge between in vitro evaluations and clinical trials [112]. In the area of cancer research, accurate in vivo models offer substantial insights into the tumor biology in complex systems (living organisms) [113], disease etiology and pathology [114], and genetic mutations leading to the occurrence and development of tumors [113], facilitating the discovery of neoplastic drugs [112] by testing novel therapy approaches that cannot be safely used in patients [114], and predicting their response to therapy [115].…”