A tumor xenograft assay is a laboratory technique used to study the growth and behavior of tumors in a living organism, typically an animal model, for biomedical and pre-clinical research purposes. This assay involves the transplantation of human or animal tumor cells or tissue into an immunodeficient animal, such as mice, which lack a functional immune system. The implanted tumor cells or tissues are derived from a patient's tumor or experimental models and represent a variety of cancer types.
The purpose of this assay is to evaluate the characteristics of a tumor, including its growth rate, response to treatment, invasiveness, and metastatic potential. By observing the behavior of the tumor in a living organism, researchers can gain insights into the tumor's biological properties and the effectiveness of different therapeutic approaches.
Typically, the process involves injecting tumor cells or tissue into the animal model, usually subcutaneously or orthotopically (into the same organ where the tumor originated). The tumor xenograft assay allows for the evaluation of various parameters, such as tumor volume, growth kinetics, histopathology, and molecular changes, providing valuable information for drug development, personalized medicine, and understanding tumor biology.
Overall, the tumor xenograft assay is a crucial tool for cancer research, allowing scientists to study the complexities of tumors in a living organism, enabling the development of new therapeutic strategies to combat cancer.
