4T1 Cell Line Derived Xenograft (Syngeneic Model)
4T1 cancer refers to cancer cells that originate from the 4T1 cell line, which is a commonly used cell line in research for the study of breast cancer. The 4T1 cell line was derived from a spontaneous mammary tumor in a mouse and is often used to study the metastatic spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body, as well as potential treatments for breast cancer. The 4T1 cell line is widely used in preclinical research to investigate the biology of breast cancer and to test new therapeutic approaches. The 4T1 syngeneic mouse model contains a fully functioning immune system that is not represented in human cell line derived xenograft (CDX) models, which require the use of immunocompromised mice. This is beneficial for preclinical studies focusing on immunotherapies targeting immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g. anti-CTLA-4, anti-PDL-1) or activating the immune system. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and therapeutic combinations are central to studying immune responses in the fully immunocompetent Balb/c mouse model. The 4T1 cell line derived syngeneic model enables studies being performed in a completely immunocompetent model, such as therapeutic combinations targeting cellular signaling (TGFβ antagonist) and inhibition of tumor growth (doxorubicin).
| 4T1 | ER+, PR+, HER2+/-, p53(mut) |
| Origin | Breast |
| Disease | Animal stage IV human breast cancer (mouse) |
| Metastatic Models (Breast) | 4T1 |
| Non-Metastatic Models (Breast) | BT-474, HS578T, KPL-4, MCF-7, MDA-MB-157, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-453, MDA-MB-468, T-47D |
4T1 is a mouse mammary carcinoma cell line commonly used in preclinical studies of breast cancer. This cell line was derived from a spontaneous mammary tumor in a Balb/c mouse and has been extensively studied for its ability to form highly metastatic tumors that closely mimic the behavior of human breast cancer in mice.
The 4T1 cell line has several characteristics that make it a useful tool for breast cancer research. It is highly invasive and can metastasize to multiple organs, including lung, liver, and bone, making it a good model for studying the process of cancer metastasis. It is also resistant to many commonly used chemotherapeutic agents, allowing researchers to test new treatments that may be more effective against drug-resistant tumors.
Studies using the 4T1 cell line have contributed to a better understanding of the biology of breast cancer, including the mechanisms of cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis. This cell line has also been used to test the efficacy of various cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, and to develop new drugs for the treatment of breast cancer.
4T1 Xenograft Model Clinical Relevance
The insights gained from research using the 4T1 cell line continue to shape the development of advanced breast cancer treatments. As a versatile xenograft animal model, 4T1 has helped to identify potential drug targets and test novel therapeutics under conditions that closely mimic human cancer progression and metastasis. Looking forward, 4T1-based studies may further inform the design of personalized therapies, particularly in the field of immunotherapy, where understanding immune-tumor interactions in a fully immunocompetent model holds promise for new treatment strategies that could be adapted for clinical use. The continuous study of 4T1 and similar models underscores the importance of animal models in bridging the gap between preclinical findings and clinical application.
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4T1 Xenograft Model
What is a Xenograft?
Development of an anti-cancer therapeutic requires intense, well planned studies that follow a streamlined path for success. Primary studies are performed in an in vitro setting that allows for high throughput screening and analysis of multiple compounds of interest. This method enables a focused compound screening approach of multiple cell lines within a specific cancer type, or a divergent approach across a broad range of cancer types. Ultimately, in vitro screening results need to be confirmed in an animal model due to in vitro inadequacies of cells cultured on plastic, as this method is far removed from the microenvironment of a tumor.
As the logical next step in therapeutic development is the administration of the test compound in a living animal, a cell line derived xenograft model (CDX) is created by inoculating human cancer cell lines in test animals. The injected cell lines grow into established tumors, thus, permitting efficacy studies of the test compounds. An alternative to CDX models is the patient derived tumor xenograft (PDX) which consists of implanting human tumor fragments directly in a mouse model. The PDX model avoids concerns with the CDX model since the tumor is never grown on plastic and there is no selection for single cell populations. In contrary to CDX models, the ideology of PDX models is to maintain the cell population, structure and stroma of the initial tumor.
Why use Xenograft Models?
Cell line derived xenograft (CDX) models or patient derived tumor xenograft (PDX) models enable a larger realm of parameters to be studied not capable with in vitro studies. The complete animal system model expands the scope of studies available to include the effect of test compounds on pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), alternate routes of delivery, inhibition of metastasis, CBCs, dosing regimens, dose levels, etc. However, one of the major drawbacks of CDX and PDX models is that the human cancer cell lines or human patient derived tumors must be implanted in immunocompromised mice in order to bypass the graft versus host rejection by the animal. With the increasing focus of the immune systems role in the recognition and elimination of tumor cells (i.e. immunotherapy), major consideration must be taken into account during experimental concept design of the limitation of checkpoint inhibitors or desired immune response involvement in tumor efficacy. Similarly, any tumor regression after treatment with a test compound in these models will not exhibit the potential complement cascade or innate immune response of the injected therapeutic in humans.
What we offer?
Our in vivo xenograft service department evaluates the efficacy of preclinical and clinical cancer therapeutics utilizing more than 90 validated immunocompromised xenograft mouse models. The value of utilizing our xenograft service department is highlighted by the ability to completely characterize the efficacy, dose regimen, dose levels and optimal combination ratios of lead compounds for cancer, obesity, diabetes, infections and immunology research.
During the design and execution of the xenograft study, our scientists will communicate with and assist the client’s decisions regarding these details:
- Study Group Formation: classification of mice by body weight, tumor size or other parameters
- Cancer Cell Line: use of in-house cell lines or utilization of customer-provided cell lines
- Tumor Implantation: intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, submuscular or intravenous
- Test Compound Administration: intraperitoneal, intravenous, tail vein, subcutaneous, topical, oral gavage, osmotic pumps or subcutaneous drug pellets
- Sample Collection: Tumors/tissues can be fixed in 10% NBF, frozen in liquid N2 or stabilized in RNAlater; blood chemistry analysis can be performed throughout the in-life portion of study
Vivarium
Our vivarium is designed such that it enables cost-effective and first-rate preclinical effectiveness testing services. All animal handling and maintenance is regulated following IACUC guidelines. Our facility consists of the following:
- IACUC-regulated and GLP-compliant
- Controlled, limited access lab areas
- Disposable cages
- Sterile food and water
- SPF (specific pathogen-free) animals to guarantee pathogens do not interfere with the experiment
- Established animal handling and micro-injection equipment systems, including an animal health observation program
- All studies follow pre-approved SOPs
Our staff understands that each proposed study design is unique and customized to the client’s needs. We also recognize the importance of the delivered results as being confidential, highly reproducible and that 100% of the intellectual property (IP) is owned by the client.
In order to receive a quote for your xenograft study, email us the specific details listed below in order to efficiently begin the study quote process:
- Cancer cell line(s) used in the study
- Number (n=) of animals in each study group
- Number of study groups and control groups
- Tumor implantation route
- Administration route of test compound
- Species of immunocompromised mouse (e.g. NOD/SCID, athymic Nude)
- Treatment and dose schedule
- Study endpoint and analysis (e.g. tumor growth delay, PK/PD, survival, toxicity, drug combinations)
- Samples collected: tumor and tissues to be collected, including storage condition (e.g. snap frozen, RNAlater, 10% NBF, nucleic acid isolation)