The prognosis and survival rate of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have remained unchanged for years, and the pathogenesis of HNSCC is still not fully understood, necessitating further research. An ideal animal model that accurately replicates the complex microenvironment of HNSCC is urgently needed. Among all the animal models for preclinical cancer research, tumor-bearing mouse models are the best known and widely used due to their high similarity to humans. Currently, mouse models for HNSCC can be broadly categorized into chemical-induced models, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), and transplanted mouse models, each with its distinct advantages and limitations. In chemical-induced models, the carcinogen spontaneously initiates tumor formation through a multistep process. The resemblance of this model to human carcinogenesis renders it an ideal preclinical platform for studying HNSCC initiation and progression from precancerous lesions. The major drawback is that these models are time-consuming and, like human cancer, unpredictable in terms of timing, location, and number of lesions. GEMMs involve transgenic and knockout mice with gene modifications, leading to malignant transformation within a tumor microenvironment that recapitulates tumorigenesis in vivo, including their interaction with the immune system. However, most HNSCC GEMMs exhibit low tumor incidence and limited prognostic significance when translated to clinical studies. Transplanted mouse models are the most widely used in cancer research due to their consistency, availability, and efficiency. Based on the donor and recipient species matching, transplanted mouse models can be divided into xenografts and syngeneic models. In the latter, transplanted cells and host are from the same strain, making syngeneic models relevant to study functional immune system. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the characteristics, establishment methods, and potential applications of these different HNSCC mouse models, aiming to assist researchers in choosing suitable animal models for their research.

中文翻译：

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头颈鳞状细胞癌小鼠模型

头颈鳞状细胞癌（HNSCC）的预后和生存率多年来一直没有变化，并且HNSCC的发病机制仍不完全清楚，需要进一步研究。迫切需要一种能够准确复制头颈部鳞癌复杂微环境的理想动物模型。在所有用于临床前癌症研究的动物模型中，荷瘤小鼠模型因其与人类的高度相似性而最为知名并被广泛使用。目前，HNSCC的小鼠模型可大致分为化学诱导模型、基因工程小鼠模型（GEMM）和移植小鼠模型，每种模型都有其独特的优点和局限性。在化学诱导模型中，致癌物通过多步骤过程自发启动肿瘤形成。该模型与人类致癌作用的相似性使其成为研究癌前病变的 HNSCC 起始和进展的理想临床前平台。主要缺点是这些模型非常耗时，并且像人类癌症一样，在病变的时间、位置和数量方面无法预测。 GEMM 涉及基因修饰的转基因和基因敲除小鼠，导致肿瘤微环境内的恶性转化，重现体内肿瘤发生，包括它们与免疫系统的相互作用。然而，大多数 HNSCC GEMM 在转化为临床研究时表现出较低的肿瘤发生率和有限的预后意义。移植小鼠模型因其一致性、可用性和效率而在癌症研究中应用最广泛。根据供体和受体物种匹配，移植小鼠模型可分为异种移植模型和同基因模型。在后者中，移植细胞和宿主来自同一菌株，使得同基因模型与研究功能性免疫系统相关。在这篇综述中，我们对这些不同HNSCC小鼠模型的特点、建立方法和潜在应用进行了全面的总结，旨在帮助研究人员选择合适的动物模型进行研究。