Preclinical models in the study of lymph node metastasis

Liya WEI; Zizhan LI; Niannian ZHONG; Leiming CAO; Guangrui WANG; Yao XIAO; Bo CAI; Bing LIU; Linlin BU

doi:10.1631/jzus.B2400052

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Review | Updated：2025-08-25

Preclinical models in the study of lymph node metastasis
Preclinical models in the study of lymph node metastasis
淋巴结转移研究中的临床前模型
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology) Vol. 26, Issue 8, Pages: 740-762(2025)
Affiliations：

1.State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
2.Department of Oral & Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
3.School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
Funds：
DOI：10.1631/jzus.B2400052
CLC：
CSTR：
Received：30 January 2024，

Revised：22 July 2024，

Published Online：24 June 2025，

Published：25 August 2025
Accepted：

魏利亚,李子瞻,仲念念等.淋巴结转移研究中的临床前模型[J].浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）,2025,26(08):740-762.

Liya WEI, Zizhan LI, Niannian ZHONG, et al. Preclinical models in the study of lymph node metastasis[J]. Journal of zhejiang university-science b (biomedicine & biotechnology), 2025, 26(8): 740-762.
魏利亚,李子瞻,仲念念等.淋巴结转移研究中的临床前模型[J].浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）,2025,26(08):740-762. DOI： 10.1631/jzus.B2400052.

Liya WEI, Zizhan LI, Niannian ZHONG, et al. Preclinical models in the study of lymph node metastasis[J]. Journal of zhejiang university-science b (biomedicine & biotechnology), 2025, 26(8): 740-762. DOI： 10.1631/jzus.B2400052.

摘要

淋巴结转移是导致特定癌症预后不良的关键因素。基础研究有助于加深我们对肿瘤行为的理解，并确定有价值的治疗靶点。然而，无论是基础理论的探索还是临床疗法的验证，均依赖于临床前研究，因此临床前模型是连接基础理论和临床结果的桥梁。建立动物体内模型为全面观察肿瘤细胞与生物体之间的相互作用提供了一个宝贵的平台。利用包括小鼠在内的各种实验动物，致癌物质诱导的癌化、肿瘤细胞系或人体肿瘤的移植、基因工程和人源化等多种方法已被有效地用于建立众多肿瘤淋巴结转移模型。致癌物诱导模型模拟了肿瘤发生和转移的全过程；移植模型使用人类肿瘤细胞系或患者衍生肿瘤，提供了一个密切反映人类肿瘤组织学和临床表现的研究平台；基因工程模型被用来研究原发性肿瘤在完整微环境中的发生机制；人源化模型用于克服人类和小鼠免疫系统之间的障碍。除小鼠模型外，其他各种动物模型也具有独特的优势和局限性，可用于探索淋巴结转移。本文总结了现有的体外和动物临床前模型，指出了目前临床前研究的瓶颈，并对即将推出的临床前模型进行了展望。

Abstract

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a crucial risk factor influencing an unfavorable prognosis in specific cancers. Fundamental research illuminates our understanding of tumor behavior and identifies valuable therapeutic targets. Nevertheless

the exploration of fundamental theories and the validation of clinical therapies hinge on preclinical experiments. Preclinical models

in this context

serve as the conduit connecting fundamental theories to clinical outcomes. In vivo models established in animals offer a valuable platform for comprehensively observing interactions between tumor cells and organisms. Using various experimental animals

including mice

diverse methods

such as carcinogen-induced tumorigenesis

tumor cell line or human tumor transplantation

genetic engineering

and humanization

have been used effectively to construct numerous models for tumor LNM. Carcinogen-induced models simulate the entire process of tumorigenesis and metastasis. Transplantation models

using human tumor cell lines or patient-derived tumors

offer a research platform closely mirroring the histology and clinical behavior of human tumors. Genetically engineered models have been used to delve into the mechanisms of primary tumorigenesis within an intact microenvironment. Humanized models are used to overcome barriers between human and murine immune systems. Beyond mouse models

various other animal models have unique advantages and limitations

all contributing to exploring LNM. This review summarizes existing in vitro and animal preclinical models

identifies current bottlenecks in preclinical research

and offers an outlook on forthcoming preclinical models.

关键词

Keywords

references

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