10-15 – Novel, Sophisticated Animal Models for Preclinical Testing of Human Cancers

Researchers at Kansas State University are developing immunocompetent animal models of human cancers. This technology would allow testing potential immune therapies against various cancers (such as human hepatocellular carcinoma, human glioma, human pancreatic cancer, human breast cancer, melanoma, mesothelioma, prostatic cancer and colorectal cancer). The researchers are currently in the process of extensively testing these models, after achieving success in establishing human tumor xenografts in immunocompetent mice. There is a tremendous demand for sophisticated animal models with an intact immune system as opposed to immunodeficient animals in which explosive growth of tumors occurs and which do not allow the testing of therapies such as checkpoint blockade, cancer vaccines, chimeric antigen receptor cells, etc. Moreover, this technology may be applicable to species that more closely reflect the human body for preclinical testing. Among large animals (e.g. pigs, cattle, sheep), the pig is especially appealing as a human cancer model because it is physiologically similar to humans and produces multiple offspring. Aarushi Gupta-Sheth aarushi@ksu.edu 785-532-3907