Animal Models to Test Adjuvant Treatment: An Experimental Model of Colon Cancer

摘要

The recent failure of a clinical trial testing new adjuvant treatment administered after complete resection of localized colorectal cancer has shown the need for new animal models of this and similar pathology. However, animal models are the subject of debate for many reasons, including ethics, relevance, and cost. Here we develop an experimental model for use in testing adjuvant treatment of colon cancer. Different models of colon cancer are discussed, and limitations reported. An animal model of primary tumor resection using immune-deficient mice is proposed; treatment types which could be tested and biological information which could be obtained by use of this model are detailed; and limits of the method, including statistical limitations, are discussed and the first results of the model are reported.