title: Characterization of human pancreatic orthotopic tumor xenografts suitable for drug screening.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Efforts to identify novel therapeutic options for human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have failed to result in a clear improvement in patient survival to date. Pancreatic cancer requires efficient therapies that must be designed and assayed in preclinical models with improved predictor ability. Among the available preclinical models, the orthotopic approach fits with this expectation, but its use is still occasional.
  
  
  METHODS
  An in vivo platform of 11 orthotopic tumor xenografts has been generated by direct implantation of fresh surgical material. In addition, a frozen tumorgraft bank has been created, ensuring future model recovery and tumor tissue availability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tissue microarray studies allow showing a high degree of original histology preservation and maintenance of protein expression patterns through passages. The models display stable growth kinetics and characteristic metastatic behavior. Moreover, the molecular diversity may facilitate the identification of tumor subtypes and comparison of drug responses that complement or confirm information obtained with other preclinical models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This panel represents a useful preclinical tool for testing new agents and treatment protocols and for further exploration of the biological basis of drug responses.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pérez-Torras
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vidal-Pla
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miquel
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Almendro
authors.forename: Laureano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernández-Cruz
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maurel
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carbó
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gascón
authors.forename: Adela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins