Predictable animal models for translational electroporation-based cancer immunotherapy studies

Abstract

Emerging strategies in cancer treatments, such as gene electrotransfer and electrochemotherapy, are very promising. However, preclinical studies of effective therapeutic agents delivered in animal models to translate into the clinic still remain a crucial feature. To pass successfully from bench to bedside, attention on in vivo models to employ in promising translational preventive and/or therapeutic protocols must become of utmost importance. In this chapter, it has been called attention to important aspects that can make a predictable animal model, such as the possibility to mimic the onset and development of tumors occurring in humans. The strengths, weakness, applicability, and predictability to human cancer of these classes of preclinical models are discussed in this chapter, in the context of immunotherapeutic studies based on electrotransfer.