THE USE OF ANIMAL-MODELS IN CANCER DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT

The process of searching for new canter drugs has evolved from rationa l empiricism using high volume murine screens towards more targeted sy stems designed to discover agents which are specifically active agains t the common solid tumors of adulthood. Irrespective of the method of discovery, animal models are necessary in cancer drug development to a nswer fundamental questions of drug pharmacology and end organ toxicit y. This knowledge is fundamental to the design of Phase I clinical tri als. Increasingly, ani mal models are being utilized in the earliest s tages of cancer drug discovery, as well as finding new uses guiding do se escalation in man. In addition, transgenic and SCID model systems h ave special applicability to the preclinical and clinical development of biological agents. This article reviews the emerging roles of anima l models in cancer drug discovery and development.