Modeling guidelines and latest applications of patient-derived xenograft models

Tumor models are required to keep the most original characteristics of the primary tumor in precision treatment. Patient-derived xenograft models are established when cancerous cells or tissues directly from patients′ primary tumors are transplanted into immunodeficient mice to mimic human tumor biology in vivo, which have been widely used in cancer research. In this review, we initially summarize the methodology and its progress to create patient-derived xenograft models from three aspects including grafts, hosts and grafting regions, and then go over recent applications of patient-derived xenograft models in basic cancer research on the areas of tumorigenesis, metastasis and drug resistance and in translational medical research of tumor, such as exploring cancer biomarkers, screening anti-cancer drugs and personalized therapy for neoplasm. Finally, we propose the problems of patient-derived xenograft, which must be solved urgently. Key words: Xenograft model antitumor assays; Biomedical research; Translational research; Individualized medicine