Background: Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) involve the direct surgical transfer of fresh human tumor samples to immunodeficient mice. This systematic review aimed to identify publications of head and neck cancer PDX (HNC-PDX) models, describing the main methodological characteristics and outcomes.
Methods: An electronic search was undertaken in four databases, including publications having used HNC-PDX. Data were analyzed descriptively.
Results: 63 articles were yielded. The nude mouse was one most commonly animal model used (38.8 %), and squamous cell carcinoma accounted for the majority of HNC-PDX (80.6 %). Tumors were mostly implanted in the flank (86.3 %), and the latency period ranged from 30 to 401 days. The successful rate ranged from 17 % to 100 %. Different drugs and pathways were identified.
Conclusion: HNC-PDX appears to significantly recapitulate the morphology of the original HNC and represents a valuable method in translational research for the assessment of the in vivo effect of novel therapies for HNC.
Keywords: Animal models; Head and neck neoplasms; Preclinical drug evaluation; Translational medical research; Xenograft model antitumor assays.
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