Generation and Characterization of Lung Cancer PDX Models from Human Specimens Across Serial Passages
This study aims to investigate the regulatory influence of the host microenvironment on tumor growth during the establishment of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of human lung cancer in athymic nude mice. By serially passaging tumor tissues from primary clinical specimens through generations P0 to P3, we examined how the immunodeficient but NK cell-competent microenvironment of athymic nude mice affects tumor adaptation and progression. Whole transcriptome (RNA-seq) profiling was used to identify changes in gene expression related to immune signaling and stromal interaction across passages. This project provides important insights into the role of the murine host microenvironment, particularly innate immune responses, in shaping the development and evolution of human lung cancer in PDX models, and supports future translational studies using PDX systems as clinically relevant tools for cancer research.