Table 3 Strains of immunocompromised mice used to develop the PDX-IM model

Nude

Homozygous mutations in the Foxn1 gene

1. Thymus and hair are absent;

2. Antigen-presenting cells, macrophages, and NK cells are active

1. Well characterized;

2. Easy observation of subcutaneous tumors;

3. Low price

1. Functional B and NK cells;

2. T cell leakage increases with age

1. Low efficiency;

2. Not an ideal host

Rag1/Rag2

Rag1/2 recombinase defects

No mature T and B cells

Easy to evaluate DNA damaging therapies

1. NK cell activity is high;

2. Restrict HSC reconstitution in humans

Low efficiency

SCID

Mutations in the Prkdc gene

No mature T and B cells

Higher engraftment rate compared to nude

1. Functional NK cell;

2. Leakage of T and B cells;

3. The probability of death is very high;

4. Radiosensitive

1. Low efficiency;

2. Manily for prostate cancer

SCID/Beige

Combination of Beige mutation with the SCID mutation

1. No mature T and B cells;

2. Impaired Mφ and NK function;

3. Macrophage increase

Higher engraftment rate compared to SCID

1. Leakage of T cells;

2. Radiosensitive

1. Moderate efficiency;

2. Commonly used in F1

NOD/SCID

NOD (non-obese diabetic) mutation along with SCID

1. No mature T and B cells;

2. Impaired NK function and Mφ & DC

Better engraftment

1. Spontaneous lymphoma;

2. Short life span (av. 36 wks);

3. Radiosensitive

1. Moderate efficiency;

2. Manily for lung cancer and melanoma

NOD/SCID/IL2Rγnull

(NOG/NSG)

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

1. No mature T, B cells, and NK cells;

2. Impaired Mφ and DC

Excellent engraftment of PDX-IM including hematopoietic malignancies

1. Need strict SPF conditions;

2. Breeding is not easy;

3. Expensive

1. High efficiency;

2. Manily for breast, SCCHN and ovarian cancer

NOD/SCID/Jak3null (NOJ)

Backcrossing JAK3null mice with the NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid strain

1. No mature T, B cells, and NK cells;

2. Impaired Mφ and DC

1. Low incidence rate of lymphoma;

2. Longer life spans;

3. Suitable for low-growth tumors

1. Need strict SPF conditions;

2. Breeding is not easy;

3. Expensive

1. High efficiency;

2. Manily for breast, SCCHN and ovarian cancer

NOD-SCID-IL2RG − / − (NRG)

Rag1 mutation replaced the SCID mutation in NOG mice

1. No mature T, B cells, and NK cells;

2. Impaired Mφ and DC

1. Intra-oral injection for PDX-IM development;

2. Longer life spans (> 90 wks);

3. Low incidence rate of lymphoma

1. Macrophages, DCs and neutrophils influence engraftment efficacy;

2. GVHD development

1. High efficiency;

2. Manily for hormone receptor-positive (HR +) breast cancer;

3. Manily for human HSC engraftment

BALB/c

Rag2null/IL2Rγnull (BRG)

Rag2 null/Jak3 null (BRJ)

BRGSF

BALB/c mice with Rag2/IL2rg/Jak3 receptor gamma truncation/disruption mutations

No mature T, B cells, and NK cells

1. Excellent engraftment of PDX-IM;

2. Resistant to stress;

3. Easy breeding;

4. Resistance to radiation

Expensive

1. High efficiency;

2. Manily for cholangiocarcinoma, head and neck tumor, gastric cancer, bladder cancer, and hematological tumor