For years, mouse tumor models have continuously been used to verify the in vivo efficacy of novel anti-tumor therapeutics in advance of clinical research and testing in humans.

Xenograft tumor models are usually established by subcutaneous inoculation of a certain number of tumor cells into the flank of mouse. The mouse strains used (e.g. nude or SCID immunodeficient mice) show significant high acceptance rate for xenografts, making them ideal implement for in vivo culture of human tumors. They are normally used to discovery therapeutic schedules, drug dosage and routes of administration, for the sake of maximizing anti-tumor efficacy and therapeutic window.