Abstract IA28: Innovative PDX models for studying immunotherapy of cancer

PDX models are limited by the absence of a complete and functional immune system. Overwhelming evidence now exists to suggest that immune cells play an integral role in the development and maintenance of tumors. Without a functional immune system, PDX models cannot reflect the dynamic processes of tumor-immune surveillance and immune-mediated editing, limiting the translation of antitumor results obtained in these models. Another important consequence of lacking an immune system is the impossibility to test in these models anticancer drugs that directly target immune cells. To overcome these important limitations, PDX models with human immune systems are needed. There are different approaches to enrich PDX models with human immune cells: engrafting human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, engrafting hematopoietic stem cells, or engrafting primary patient-derived tumor xenografts with human tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. All these alternatives have different strengths and weaknesses that are important to know for obtaining preclinical results that are meaningful for clinical translation. Citation Format: Miguel F. Sanmamed. Innovative PDX models for studying immunotherapy of cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Patient-Derived Cancer Models: Present and Future Applications from Basic Science to the Clinic; Feb 11-14, 2016; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(16_Suppl):Abstract nr IA28.