A compendium of next-generation patient-derived models for diverse cancers.

A large-scale international effort created 665 next-generation patient-derived cancer models with 97.8% genetic and 95% epigenetic fidelity to original tumors, covering 25 cancer types.

• Why it matters: Current models do not fully capture the diversity of human cancers, limiting the study of tumor biology and therapeutic resistance. Understanding and improving model accuracy is crucial for advancing cancer research and treatment.
• What they did: The Human Cancer Models Initiative generated and extensively characterized these models through whole genome, exome, methylome, and transcriptome analyses, including clinical data and studies of tumor-model pairs.
• The result: This resource enables detailed investigation of tumor heterogeneity, model fidelity, and resistance mechanisms, supporting preclinical research and personalized therapy development.