Patient-derived xenograft models in pan-cancer: From bench to clinic

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models provide a robust preclinical platform that preserves the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of patient tumors while mirroring their tumor genetic characteristics, which retain malignant cells and the tumor pathological structure, making them valuable for studying tumor progression and developing anticancer therapies. This review outlines the establishment of PDX models and their applications in tumor research by comparing their attributes and limitations with other experimental models. It explores the use of PDX models in understanding tumor progression mechanisms, resistance mechanisms, and treatment strategies, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, nanotherapy, cell therapy, antibody-drug conjugates, and combination therapy. Integration of PDX models with multi-omics technologies is also discussed, along with their application in co-clinical and clinical studies. Notably, this review covers approximately 30 cancer types and aims to guide future cancer research.