Patient Derived Xenograft (PDX) models: Frequently asked questions

PDX models are created by implanting human tumour tissue into immunodeficient mice.

PDX models are superior in recapitulating patient tumour characteristics including spatial structure, intratumour heterogeneity, genomic features, tumour growth rates, metastatic patterns and drug responses. These highly translatable preclinical models can be used to more accurately predict therapeutic efficacy and de-risk preclinical in vivo drug validation.

Fresh or thawed human breast tumour fragments were implanted into the cleared inguinal mammary fat pad of female immunocompromised mice [NOD scid gamma (NSG) Jackson Laboratory 5557; NOD/scid, Jackson Laboratory 1303 or NOD rag gamma (NRG), Jackson Laboratory 7799].  

For liquid specimens, pleural effusion, or ascites fluid, 1-2 milion cells were injected into cleared mammary fat pads in Matrigel.  

For estrogen receptor positive (ER+) tumours, mice were dosed with E2 beeswax pellets and given supplemental E2 via drinking water. When tumours reached 1-2 cm in diameter, tumours were aseptically collected and re-implanted into new mice or banked. Estrogen-independent ER+ breast PDX models were generated when ER+ PDX tumours were implanted into ovariectomised mice without E2 supplementation.  

Additional Information on PDX establishment can be found here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43018-022-00337-6/figures/9 

We are providing vials containing early passage (P3-P9) cryopreserved PDX tumour tissue fragments, including those from the most advanced and lethal forms of breast cancer, such as aggressive, metastatic and treatment–resistant subtypes. Each vial contains 5 good fragments, and we recommend implanting 1 fragment into 1 mouse. 

Shipping temperature: Dry ice (-80°C) 

Storage temperature: Transfer to liquid nitrogen (–196°C) for long term storage 

We can provide STR profiling and human and mouse pathogen testing data upon request. 

For more information on these models, please read the publications below: 

• A human breast cancer-derived xenograft and organoid platform for drug discovery and precision oncology 

• Tumor grafts derived from women with breast cancer authentically reflect tumor pathology, growth, metastasis and disease outcomes 

• Patient-derived models of human breast cancer: protocols for in vitro and in vivo applications in tumor biology and translational medicine 

Whole exome sequencing, SNP array, CNV data and RNA sequence from Guillen et al. 2022 Nature Cancer, is available in NIH database dbGaP under accession number phs002479.v1.p1.