Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models are established from resected tumor samples obtained from oncologic patients that are implanted and grown in immunodeficient mice. However, to fully recapitulate the intricacies between the immune system and the tumor microenvironment, humanized mouse models are recommended instead of immunodeficient mice. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models represent the most clinically relevant and predictive tool in your drug development journey, recapitulating the tumor and patient heterogeneity, gene expression, and response to treatment.  

Therefore, experts from InnoSer’s immuno-oncology team recommend the use of PDX mouse models whenever you have carried out initial in vivo studies using cell line-derived (CDX) mouse models and wish to obtain more clinically relevant results. Accordingly, patient-derived xenografts are suitable for evaluating a range of therapies ranging from immunotherapy, antibody, antibody-drug conjugate, and gene therapies to small molecules (cytotoxic drugs). PDX models provide you with a highly predictive in vivo model for therapeutic efficacy evaluation.

Compared to other preclinical in vivo models, patient-derived xenograft models represent more robust models, requiring longer study timelines and the inclusion of different patient samples to capture your compound’s efficacy on patient heterogeneity.