Alfa Cytology has launched its Next-Gen PrimePDX™ platform, designed to strengthen preclinical cancer modeling from in vitro to in vivo stages. The platform addresses a persistent challenge in immuno-oncology research where traditional tumor models often fail to fully reproduce immune responses, making it difficult to predict how treatments will behave during preclinical testing.
The PrimePDX™ platform provides a system that shows tumor and immune interactions more clearly and allows studies that better reflect immune-related treatment effects. Traditional PDX models frequently fall short when immune activity is important, limiting their usefulness in immuno-oncology research. PrimePDX™ solves this by adding human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to create a functional immune system in mice.
Small tumor fragments or early-passage tissues are used to keep tumor structures intact and maintain diversity. Human cancer-associated fibroblasts can also be added to reproduce key features of the tumor microenvironment when needed. Tumor growth and immune reconstitution are monitored throughout studies, and optional in vivo imaging system imaging allows non-invasive tracking of tumor progression.
The platform is suitable for testing checkpoint inhibitors, antibody therapies, cell therapies, cancer vaccines, and other immune-based treatments. When used together with Alfa Cytology's in vitro platforms, researchers can first screen treatments in the laboratory, then confirm effects in animal models, and finally evaluate whether effects observed in lab studies are consistent in animal models. This integrated approach helps research teams track tumor-immune interactions and assess the potential of therapeutic candidates and combination strategies.
“In immuno-oncology research, having models that accurately represent immune responses is crucial,” said a project lead at Alfa Cytology. “PrimePDX™ provides a controlled setting to observe tumor growth, immune cell behavior, and treatment effects. This helps scientists to improve study designs, evaluate combination approaches, and make more confident decisions before further preclinical testing.”
Alfa Cytology has been developing in vitro and in vivo models of cancer for years, including cell line-derived models, 3D cultures, cancer type-specific panels, and multiple animal models. These tools are used in drug testing, studying how treatments work, validating targets, assessing drug distribution, and tracking resistance. Combined, they assist research teams in starting with laboratory experiments and then confirming results in animal models, giving a clearer view of treatment effects at each stage before moving toward further preclinical studies. More information about their cancer research models and preclinical testing services is available at https://www.alfacytology.com.
