Alfa Cytology has launched its Next-Gen PrimePDX™ platform, designed to strengthen preclinical cancer modeling by better reproducing immune responses that traditional tumor models often fail to capture. The platform addresses a persistent challenge in immunotherapy research where many conventional models do not fully replicate immune system interactions, making treatment predictions less reliable during preclinical testing phases.
The PrimePDX™ system incorporates human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) into patient-derived xenograft models to create functional immune systems within mice. This approach allows researchers to observe tumor and immune interactions more clearly and conduct studies that better reflect immune-related treatment effects. Traditional PDX models frequently fall short when immune activity becomes crucial, particularly limiting their utility in immuno-oncology research where immune system responses determine treatment effectiveness.
According to a project lead at Alfa Cytology, "In immuno-oncology research, having models that accurately represent immune responses is crucial. PrimePDX™ provides a controlled setting to observe tumor growth, immune cell behavior, and treatment effects. This helps scientists to improve study designs, evaluate combination approaches, and make more confident decisions before further preclinical testing."
The platform utilizes small tumor fragments or early-passage tissues (P2–P5) to maintain tumor structure integrity and cellular diversity. Human cancer-associated fibroblasts can also be incorporated when needed to reproduce key features of the tumor microenvironment. Throughout studies, researchers monitor both tumor growth and immune reconstitution, with optional IVIS imaging available for non-invasive tracking of tumor progression.
PrimePDX™ supports testing across multiple immunotherapy categories including checkpoint inhibitors, antibody therapies, cell therapies, cancer vaccines, and other immune-based treatments. When integrated with Alfa Cytology's existing in vitro platforms, researchers can implement a comprehensive workflow: initial treatment screening in laboratory settings, confirmation of effects in animal models, and evaluation of consistency between laboratory and animal study observations.
This integrated approach enables research teams to track tumor-immune interactions systematically while assessing therapeutic candidates and combination strategies during preclinical research phases. The company has been developing both in vitro and in vivo models of cancer for years, including cell line-derived models, 3D cultures, cancer type-specific panels, and multiple animal models. These tools support various research applications including drug testing, mechanism of action studies, target validation, drug distribution assessment, and resistance tracking.
For business and technology leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, this development represents significant advancement in preclinical research infrastructure. More accurate immune-competent models could potentially reduce late-stage clinical trial failures by identifying ineffective immunotherapies earlier in development pipelines. The platform's ability to better predict human immune responses may accelerate immunotherapy development timelines while reducing research and development costs associated with pursuing candidates that ultimately prove ineffective in human trials.
The technology arrives as immunotherapy continues to grow as a cancer treatment approach, creating increased demand for research tools that can accurately model complex immune-tumor interactions. By providing a system that bridges laboratory and animal testing more effectively, PrimePDX™ addresses a critical bottleneck in immuno-oncology research where traditional models have struggled to keep pace with therapeutic innovation.
