Emergence of zebrafish models in oncology for validating novel anticancer drug targets and nanomaterials

The in vivo zebrafish models have recently attracted great attention in molecular oncology to investigate multiple genetic alterations associated with the development of human cancers and validate novel anticancer drug targets. Particularly, the transparent zebrafish models can be used as a xenotransplantation system to rapidly assess the tumorigenicity and metastatic behavior of cancer stem and/or progenitor cells and their progenies. Moreover, the zebrafish models have emerged as powerful tools for an in vivo testing of novel anticancer agents and nanomaterials for counteracting tumor formation and metastases and improving the efficacy of current radiation and chemotherapeutic treatments against aggressive, metastatic and lethal cancers.

► Zebrafish constitutes a simple and cost effective animal model compared with other in vivo vertebrate models. ► Zebrafish models offer great promise to investigate the molecular mechanisms of human cancers. ► Transparent zebrafish models are powerful tools as xenotransplantation systems. ► Zebrafish models may be used for assessing the behavior of cancer stem cells and their progenies. ► Zebrafish models permit the rapid in vivo validation of novel anticancer agents and nanomaterials.