Pediatric and Adult Brain Tumor PDX Models

Pediatric and adult brain tumors represent dozens of distinct molecular and pathological cancer types. In human patients, brain tumors may have disrupted, intact, or partially intact blood–brain barriers, which greatly influences the concentration of most therapeutic agents in the tumor cells. The unique microenvironment of the brain also influences the extent to which brain tumors are responsive or resistant to therapeutics. These and other challenges have resulted in decades of failed human clinical trials. Numerous orthotopic and flank patient-derived mouse models have been developed to help address these important translational oncology issues in the preclinical setting.