ABSTRACT
The validity of a preclinical model for cancer chemotherapy is ultimately established by its sensitivity or resistance to clinically used cytostatic agents. Determination of the efficacy of the conventional drugs may clarify whether the nude mouse-human tumor model is able to identify active and inactive compounds in a variety of tumor types. Human tumor xenograft models based on heterotransplantation into host animals have been developed before athymic nude mice became available. The drug dose and schedule are of crucial importance in xenograft chemotherapy studies, especially if the efficacy of conventional cytostatic agents in nude mice is to be compared with the clinical activity known in patients. Cisplatin [cis-diamminodichloroplatinum (II)] is the only heavy metal compound used in cancer chemotherapy. Treatment of cancer patients requires a multidisciplinary approach. In most cases, surgery, irradiation, and chemotherapy are combined in order to achieve an optimal tumor response.
