Human xenografts are not rejected in a naturally occurring immunodeficient porcine line: a human tumor model in pigs

MT Basel, S Balivada, AP Beck… - BioResearch open …, 2012 - liebertpub.com
MT Basel, S Balivada, AP Beck, MA Kerrigan, MM Pyle, JCM Dekkers, CR Wyatt…
BioResearch open access, 2012liebertpub.com
Animal models for cancer therapy are invaluable for preclinical testing of potential cancer
treatments; however, therapies tested in such models often fail to translate into clinical
settings. Therefore, a better preclinical model for cancer treatment testing is needed. Here
we demonstrate that an immunodeficient line of pigs can host and support the growth of
xenografted human tumors and has the potential to be an effective animal model for cancer
therapy. Wild-type and immunodeficient pigs were injected subcutaneously in the left ear …
Abstract
Animal models for cancer therapy are invaluable for preclinical testing of potential cancer treatments; however, therapies tested in such models often fail to translate into clinical settings. Therefore, a better preclinical model for cancer treatment testing is needed. Here we demonstrate that an immunodeficient line of pigs can host and support the growth of xenografted human tumors and has the potential to be an effective animal model for cancer therapy. Wild-type and immunodeficient pigs were injected subcutaneously in the left ear with human melanoma cells (A375SM cells) and in the right ear with human pancreatic carcinoma cells (PANC-1). All immunodeficient pigs developed tumors that were verified by histology and immunohistochemistry. Nonaffected littermates did not develop tumors. Immunodeficient pigs, which do not reject xenografted human tumors, have the potential to become an extremely useful animal model for cancer therapy because of their similarity in size, anatomy, and physiology to humans.
Mary Ann Liebert