Although large-scale drug screens are commonly completed in vitro using human cell lines, in vivo studies are probably a more accurate representation of drug response because the normal three-dimensional (3D) architecture of the tumor, pattern of heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment are maintained.
Highly specialized and protected extracellular microenvironments are maintained via interfaces with vascular and extracellular spaces that are essential for the compartmentalization of specialized milieux intérieurs.
It is known that neurons can only function normally in a 'clean' microenvironment, which is maintained in part by microglia, the immune cells of the brain.
Another advantage of this model is that the natural microenvironment of the pancreas is maintained.
The great advantage of PDX models lies in the fact that they consider the full tissue context, as the local tumour microenvironment including cellular heterogeneity is maintained (Siolas & Hannon, 2013).
The specialized microenvironment of peripheral nerve fibers is maintained by regulated blood nerve exchange across the BNI and turnover of endoneurial fluid by convective fluid flow, which is vital for the maintenance of endoneurial physiological parameters including blood flow, O2 tension, pH, oncotic pressure, hydrostatic pressure, and ion concentrations.
Under homeostatic conditions, most progenitors remain in the bone marrow compartment, retained by high SDF-1α expression, which is maintained by the hypoxic microenvironment.
These preliminary data provide rationale for the continued evaluation of potential biologic mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment by which resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy is maintained.
GC proliferation is maintained throughout folliculogenesis, providing not only a specialized microenvironment but also nutrients for oocytes growth.
Normal skin architecture and melanocyte function is maintained by a dynamic interplay between the melanocytes themselves, the epithelial cells between which they are interspersed, and their microenvironment.
