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Figure 2 | BMC Medicine

Figure 2

From: New horizons in tumor microenvironment biology: challenges and opportunities

Figure 2

Illustrative models for the preclinical evaluation of novel anticancer regimes that incorporate TME-targeting agents. (A) Route 1 (singular), tumors develop in transgenic mice before the preclinical administration of chemotherapy or targeted therapy is applied as a singular agent. Dramatic cancer resistance is observed in such a therapeutic approach, with only limited efficacy available. (B) Route 2 (combinational), in contrast to route 1, an updated regime incorporating the novel agents (small molecule inhibitor or monoclonal antibodies) into the treatment program, which allows targeting both the tumor and TME. Significant disease regression follows after several cycles of the novel treatments, with much higher preclinical index achieved. (C) Route 3 (singular), tumors develop in the immunocompetent (wild type) mice xenografted with cancer cells and stromal cells from the same genetic and/or strain background as the host. Upon exposure to treatments as in Route A, a low outcome is observed. (D) Route 4 (combinational), tumors develop in the xenograft mice as in C, harboring implanted cancer and stromal components. Once receiving the same treatments as in Route B, animals present significantly improved therapeutic efficacy. (Note, in routes C and D, the preclinical paradigm in prospective trials exclude PDX, although it is a highly recommended model for many cancer studies).

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