Table 1 Advantages and disadvantages of using cell lines as preclinical models
From: Predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine in breast cancer: targeting the PI3K pathway
Advantages of cell lines as pre-clinical models | Disadvantages of cell lines as pre-clinical models |
|---|---|
Ease of Establishment: Cell lines simplify preclinical model establishment, enabling swift initiation of experiments | Lack of In Vivo Tumor Microenvironment: Cell lines lack the complexity of the in vivo tumor microenvironment, limiting their ability to fully replicate conditions found in patient tumors |
Controlled Culture Conditions: Cell lines offer controlled conditions for PI3K inhibitor studies, ensuring consistency and reproducibility | Absence of Interaction with the Immune System: Cell lines lack interaction with the immune system, limiting insights into immune-related responses to PI3K inhibitors in cancer biology |
High-Throughput Screening: Cell lines enhance high-throughput screening, allowing rapid testing of various conditions and compounds | Three-Dimensional Structural Complexity: Cell lines lack full three-dimensional structural complexity seen in patient tumors, potentially causing differences in drug response and resistance |
Insight into Molecular Mechanisms: Cell lines provide valuable insights into molecular mechanisms of PI3K signaling changes in breast cancer, enhancing understanding of the disease | Translation to Clinical Trials: Cell lines offer valuable preclinical data, but validation in more clinically relevant models like patient-derived xenografts or transgenic mouse models is essential before advancing to clinical trials |
Manipulation of Gene Expression: Cell lines permit gene expression manipulation through techniques like RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR-Cas9, facilitating targeted studies of genes and signaling pathways | Representativeness: Cell lines may not fully represent the heterogeneity of patient tumors, raising concerns about their representativeness. Molecular and phenotypic characteristics may not fully mirror the diversity seen in breast cancer patients |
Molecular Characterization: Thorough molecular characterization of cell lines, including PIK3CA gene mutation identification, ensures accurate representation of breast cancer's genetic landscape | Â |
Study of Drug Combinations: Cell lines are valuable for studying PI3K inhibitor combinations, offering insights into synergies and optimizing therapeutic approaches | Â |