Modeling immuno-oncology in a humanized mouse

Immune deficient mice by design lack adaptive immunity which makes them an ideal host for supporting the transplantation and growth of human tumor cells. Preclinical xenograft models utilizing immune deficient mice are limited for the investigation of immunotherapies due to this lack of functional immune cells. This spotlight will highlight a method in which human T-lymphocytes cells can propagate within an immune compromised mouse and support tumor xenograft growth.

PC-3M-Luc-C6 – a model for prostate carcinoma

Early detection of prostate cancer is very challenging. Unfortunately patients are asymptomatic until advanced stage disease, leaving them with limited treatment options. The delayed detection also results in an increase in the incidence of metastatic disease. Advanced stage prostate cancer typically metastasizes to the bone and lymph nodes.

GL261-luc: A model for immunotherapy and radiation therapy

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive form of brain cancer. GBM tumors grow within a fairly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and a relatively immune-privileged central nervous system. For patients diagnosed with GBM, prognosis remains poor with conventional therapies that include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery.

BT-474 Human ductal breast carcinoma: New life for an old model

The BT-474 cell line has a long history, but many of us thought it had run its natural course and was quickly becoming obsolete.

NCI-H2228 – usage of DCE MRI in a non-small cell lung cancer orthotopic brain metastatis model

More than 90% of all pancreatic cancers are classified as ductal adenocarcinomas and, within the western-world, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths.

LL/2: an immunosuppressive murine tumor model

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States and is, by far, the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women. In 2019, the American Cancer Society estimates that 228,150 new cases of lung cancer (116,440 in men and 111,710 in women) will be diagnosed, and 142,670 deaths from lung cancer (76,650 in men and 66,020 in women) will occur.

Models for non-small cell lung carcinoma - part 2

As we presented in last month’s model spotlight, lung cancer is a devastating disease and is the leading cause of cancer death in the US and worldwide.1 The research community continues to look for new models that will aid in lung cancer research. The ATCC (a widely used cell repository) currently has over 100 different human derived lung cancer cell lines.

GL261: Syngeneic murine glioma model

Glioblastomas are known to have a poor prognosis with median survival of nine months and only five to 10 percent of patients surviving up to two years. Conventional therapies include radiotherapies and surgical removal of the tumor in combination with chemotherapy.

C1498-Luc-mCherry: A syngeneic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) model

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common hematologic malignancy in adults with a 5-year survival rate of ~25% following diagnosis.[1] While two-thirds of AML patients treated with standard high dose chemotherapy achieve remission, 50% of patients relapse after remission. The majority of relapses occur within two to three years of initial treatment, and every patient carries the risk of relapse due to the molecular heterogeneity of the disease.[2] This has created an impetus to explore novel therapeutic approaches; in particular, immune-based therapies, since AML cells express both major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classes I and class II which makes them susceptible targets of innate and adaptive immune responses.[3]

ID8: A syngeneic mouse model for testing ovarian cancer immunotherapies

ID8-Luc is a novel syngeneic mouse model developed to treat orthotopic ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer remains a significant unmet medical need with a relative 5-year survival rate of 17% in patients diagnosed with highly advanced stage IV ovarian cancer.