Zebrafish: Speeding Up the Cancer Drug Discovery Process

Cancer Res. 2018 Nov 1;78(21):6048-6058. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-18-1029. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Abstract

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an ideal in vivo model to study a wide variety of human cancer types. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of zebrafish in the cancer drug discovery process, from (i) approaches to induce malignant tumors, (ii) techniques to monitor cancer progression, and (iii) strategies for compound administration to (iv) a compilation of the 355 existing case studies showing the impact of zebrafish models on cancer drug discovery, which cover a broad scope of scenarios. Finally, based on the current state-of-the-art analysis, this review presents some highlights about future directions using zebrafish in cancer drug discovery and the potential of this model as a prognostic tool in prospective clinical studies. Cancer Res; 78(21); 6048-58. ©2018 AACR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Discovery / methods
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor / methods*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents