title: From Mice to Men and Back: An Assessment of Preclinical Model Systems for the Study of Lung Cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies of preclinical models are essential for determining the biology of lung cancers and testing new and novel therapeutic approaches. We review the commonly used preclinical models for lung cancers and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the MEDLINE database via PubMed using combinations of the following medical subject headings: lung cancer; animal models, mice; cell line, tumor; cell culture, mice; transgenic, mice; SCID, transplantation; heterologous; and genetic engineering. We reviewed the relevant published articles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple examples of the three major preclinical models-tumor cell lines, patient-derived xenografts, and genetically engineered mouse models-exist and have been used by investigators worldwide, with more than 15,000 relevant publications. Each model has its strengths and actual or potential weaknesses. In addition, newer forms of these models have been proposed or are in use as potential improvements over the conventional models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large number and variety of models have been developed and extensively used for the study of all major types of lung cancer. While they remain the cornerstone of preclinical studies, each model has its individual strengths and weaknesses. These must be carefully evaluated and applied to the proposed studies to obtain the maximum usefulness from the models.
authors.affiliation: Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. Electronic address: adi.gazdar@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Adi F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Gazdar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology and Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Fred R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.affiliation: Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Minna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008822:Mice, Transgenic
keywords: Cell lines; Genetically engineered mouse models; Lung cancer; Neuroendocrine carcinomas; Non–small cell lung cancer; Patient-derived xenografts; Preclinical models; Small cell lung cancer