Table 2.

Advantages and applications of PDX mouse models for cancer study.

Cancer	Advantages	Applications	References
Lung cancer	Retain genetic and histological characteristics.	Predict the possibility of relapse after curative surgery.	(30)
Colorectal cancer	Retain the intratumor clonal heterogeneity and chromosomal instability.	Predict responsiveness to cetuximab in patients.	(31, 32)
Pancreatic cancer	Maintain the original tumor architecture; retain a greater proportion of stromal components and develop locoregional and distant metastases.	Demonstrate the activity of mitomycin C and cisplatin in a patient harboring a PALB2 mutation. Demonstrate that stromal modulation may increase intra-tumor gemcitabine concentrations to improve therapy efficacy.	(33–35)
Head and neck cancer	Highly reflect promoter methylation in tumors and reproduced tumor heterogeneity.	Predict phase II clinical drug activity of cisplatin, diaziquone, pazelliptine, and retelliptine.	(36)
Breast cancer	Retain basal-like morphology and tumor structure.	Demonstrate the activity of cisplatin and ifosfamide combinatory therapy; evaluate the efficacy of trastuzumab.	(37, 38)
Glioblastoma multiforme	Retained genetic characteristics.	Assess the efficacy of bevacizumab.	(39, 40)
Renal cell carcinoma	Maintain the ability to evaluate tumor angiogenesis; Retain genetic and histological characteristics.	Evaluate the effects of sorafenib or sunitinib.	(41–43)
Prostate cancer	Exhibit the differentiation and expression of androgen receptor and prostate-specific antigen (PSA).	Predict the efficacy of androgen ablation therapy.	(44, 45)
Melanoma	Retain histology, genetic profiles, and tumor antigen characteristics.	Treatment with temozolomide exhibits similar responses to the corresponding patients.	(46)