With the advancement of translational research, particularly in the field of cancer, it is now imperative to have models which more clearly reflect patient heterogeneity. Patient derived xenograft (PDX) models, which involve the orthotopic implantation of breast tumors into immune-compromised mice, recapitulate the native tumor biology. Despite the considerable challenges that establishing PDX models present, they are the ultimate model to study tumorigenesis of refractory disease and for assessing the efficacy of new pharmaceutical compounds.
Keywords: PDX; Patient-derived xenografts; Primary tissue; Translational research; Tumor fragments.