Table 4 Types of immunocompromised mice that can be used to develop cancer models

Athymic nude mice

Homozygous mutations in the Foxn1 gene (encoding the Forkhead box N1 transcription factor)

Defects in hair follicles and more importantly in the thymus and cause cells of B and T to lose their function. But antigen-presenting cells (APCs), macrophages, and NK cells are active in these mice

[19, 132]

Rag1/Rag2 mice

Rag1/2 recombinase defects

B and T cells in these mice lose normal performance due to the loss of function of the recombinase, such as athymic nude. These mice are particularly used to evaluate DNA damaging therapies because Rag knockout mice have a high tolerance for DNA damage

[19, 133]

SCID mice

Mutations in the Prkdc gene (protein kinase, DNA activated, catalytic polypeptide)

B and T cell leakage in these mice causes cellular immunity. Commonly, other mutations are used in combination with SCID mutations. The possibility of the death of these mice is very high due to spontaneous T-cell lymphomas

[134, 135]

SCID/Beige mice

Combination of Beige mutation (Bg) with the SCID mutation

To defects in B- and T-cells, Bg mutation causes defects in lysosomes and the function of NK cells, but on the other hand, this mutation causes a threefold increase in macrophages compared to the Wild Balb/C

[136, 137]

NOD/SCID mice

NOD (non-obese diabetic) mutation along with SCID

Directly affects cellular immunity by interfering with the performance of NK, APC, and macrophage cells

[138, 139]

NOG and NSG mice

NOD/SCID mice with IL2 receptor gamma truncation/disruption mutations

The incidence of lymphoma in NSG mice is lower than in NOD/SCID mice, and they have longer life spans, making them grow up to engraft more human tumors. These mice are suitable for the transplantation of low-growth tumors

[140, 141]

NRG mice

In NOG mice, Rag1 mutation replaced the SCID mutation

NRG has been used for intra-oral injection for PDX development

[140]