Cancer is a complex multifactorial disease that affects many people
worldwide. Animal models play an important role in deciphering cancer biology and
developing new therapies. The animal models widely used in cancer research include
tumor xenografts, genetically engineered mice, chemically induced models, and
spontaneous tumor models. These models provide a controlled environment to study
cancer progression, the interaction of cancer and the immune system, and the
effectiveness of new therapies. Although animal models have several advantages, it is
important to identify their limitations and use them in conjunction with other
preclinical models, such as in-vitro cell culture and patient-derived xenografts, to
ensure that results are transferable to humans. In this chapter, we discuss the
importance of animal models in cancer research, the different types of animal models,
and their advantages and disadvantages. We also provide some examples of animal
models used in cancer research. Collectively, animal models have been invaluable in
advancing our understanding of cancer and will continue to be important tools in the
development of new therapies.
Keywords: Animal models, Advantages, Cancer, Combination therapies, Chemically induced models, Genetically engineered mice, Immune system, KRAS, Lung cancer, Limitations, Off-target effects, Pancreatic cancer, Spontaneous tumor models, Tumor xenografts, Transgenic mice.
