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Use of nude mouse xenograft models in prostate cancer research
Author(s) -
van Weerden Wytske M.,
Romijn Johannes C.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0045(20000601)43:4<263::aid-pros5>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - prostate cancer , prostate , medicine , cancer , cancer research , androgen , transplantation , oncology , pathology , hormone
BACKGROUND Our understanding of the mechanisms of (progressive) growth of prostatic cancer has been largely obtained through the study of experimental animal models. To be able to validate new concepts, representative model systems of human origin that mimic the clinical process of the disease in patients are essential. Unfortunately, the limited number of human prostate tumor models has considerably hampered research. METHODS Various research groups have put much effort in the development of human prostate tumor xenograft models, and large numbers of clinical prostate tumors were heterotransplanted in immune‐deficient host animals. This huge effort has resulted in a number of tumor lines which are reviewed here. RESULTS Up to now, approximately 25 xenograft models of human prostate cancer have been established and reported in the literature. The available xenografts seem to represent the various stages of clinical prostate cancer, such as early progression and transition from androgen‐dependent to androgen‐independent growth. In addition, recent efforts are concentrating on the establishment of in vitro cell lines from these xenografts as well as on the development of (bone) metastatic variants. CONCLUSIONS Xenograft models are important for elucidating regulatory pathways of tumor growth and progression and are indispensible for testing of new treatment modalities. Prostate 43:263–271, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.