Cancer Models

Available cancer models are focused on different pharmacological aspects of tumor responses to new antitumor drugs. Our specific expertise is focused on in molecular and cellular biology, in vitro/vivo tests on murine and human xenograft models. More than 70 sub-cutaneous, orthotopic and metastatic xenograft models are available for the efficacy evaluation of new compounds. Our human tumor xenograft model portfolio includes cancer cell lines from the following tissues: brain, breast, central nervous system, colon, kidney, hematologic, lung, ovary, pancreas, prostate, skin and stomach.  All the experimental activities are performed under quality control by using GLP standard procedures.

Evaluation of tumors with quantitative bioluminescent imaging: The availability of a large panel of bioluminescent pre-clinical models allows the evaluation of tumor progression in real time using the optical molecular imaging system IVIS Spectrum from PerkinElmer.
Humanized Models: We have a large collection of primary tumors (biopsies derived from patients) xenografted in tumor-bearing mice (i.e. Lung cancers, Mesothelioma, and others).
Anti-cancer drug evaluation: Administration of therapeutic candidates through different routes (intravenous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, oral/gavage, intramuscolar, intratracheal, slow release devices) alone or in combination with traditional anti-tumoral drugs, with high standards of care.

Fertilization of a large number of oocytes (up to 200) using frozen or fresh sperm.
This procedure is particularly suited for the strong expansion of a colony with few males or to recover the colony whose males were infertile after repeated natural unsuccessful mating. The same protocol is used to thaw colonies cryopreserved by sperm freezing.