Oncopig Cancer Model^® represents a promising platform for studying urothelial carcinoma, with potential applications in drug screening and translational research.

The published work (Segatto et al. 2024 Front. Oncol., 25 February 2024) discusses the development of a novel urothelial carcinoma cell line from Oncopigs^®, Sus Clinicals’ genetically modified porcine model.  The aim was to create a reliable in vitro model for bladder cancer research.  The researchers successfully demonstrated that these Oncopig^® bladder cancer cell lines mimic human bladder cancer cell responses to commonly used chemotherapeutic agents (cisplatin, doxorubicin, and gemcitabine).  Specifically, the study showed similar cytotoxic responses and apoptosis induction in both Oncopig^® and human bladder cancer cells when exposed to these commonly-used drugs for cancer treatment.

Additionally, the study explored the molecular similarities between Oncopig^® and human responses to gemcitabine treatment, revealing consistent modulation of cytoskeleton and apoptotic gene transcription in both cell lines.  Further analysis indicated similar interactions between chemotherapeutics and their target proteins in porcine, human, and murine enzymes, supporting the idea that porcine models could complement results obtained in mouse models.

The researchers conclude that the Oncopig Cancer Model^® represents a promising platform for studying urothelial carcinoma, with potential applications in drug screening and translational research.  They emphasize the need for further investigations to confirm the model’s potential, including in vivo studies and a thorough characterization of histological and molecular features of Oncopig^® and human urothelial carcinoma.