From bench to bedside: Advancements in patient-derived xenografts for predicting therapy outcomes in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed malignancy and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Management includes a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy that is tailored to the stage of the disease. However, each tumor has a unique genetic profile that influences the treatment response and the overall prognosis. Biomarkers guide treatment decisions, but many chemotherapeutics lack reliable predictors. To bridge this gap patient-derived xenograft models were developed and are valuable preclinical tools. These systems utilize patient-derived tumor tissue grafted into an animal host that provides a platform for personalized drug profiling. This article surveyed recent advances in mouse and zebrafish colorectal cancer patient-derived xenografts, emphasizing their clinical utility for functional precision oncology. We explored the impact of these models on translational research, discussed current limitations, and outlined key priorities for future development.