Whenever we explore new anti-cancer drugs for therapy or develop new probes targeted to tumor for imaging, to establish successful tumor model is very important. Sometimes, the designed drug or probe may be failed in animal studies, which did not work or did not showed a positive imaging (e.g. the probe is targeted to a cell surface receptor, positive imaging usually predicts the probe is successful) . However, when the aforementioned appeared, there are at least two reasons account this.

1. The animal tumor model is not successful, the tumor is not “real”. As for this, it can be confirmed by pathology.
2. It was true the drug or probe did not work.How to ensure the animal model you established is a “real” tumor model, here are several tips for you to follow.

• Ensure the cells you are culturing is growing in a good condition.
• Use matrigel to increase the likelihood of success, many researches have tested its efficiency.

Therefore, when you failed in animal studies, check animal model first, never give up your designed products immediately, maybe it is still a good product.