|
| | Strength | Limitation | Comment | References |
|
| Intraocular injection of syngeneic cutaneous melanoma cells | Intraocular melanoma in an immunocompetent animal, reliable reproducibility | Different genetic background, difficulties to achieve hematogenously spread metastasis | Qualifies for studies on the microenvironment (immunologic or angiogenic aspects) | In mice, [20–37]
In rabbits, [18, 42–45] |
|
| Intraocular injection of human uveal melanoma cells | Human uveal melanoma: its progression and behavior can be investigated | Necessity of immunosuppression, equivocal permanent cell lines | Frequently used for evaluating treatment options or screening therapeutic agents | In mice, [35, 48–61]
In rats, [58]
In rabbits, [62–71]
In zebrafish, [72] |
|
| Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) | Individualized investigation of tumor progression and screening of therapeutic compounds | Necessity of immunosuppression, fresh material not constantly available for research | To date, only preliminary studies for uveal melanoma, further research and refinement needed | In mice, [73–75] |
|
| Transgenic models of cutaneous melanoma | Spontaneous uveal proliferation in an immunocompetent animal | Different genetic background, no reliable metastasis | Spontaneous skin melanoma does not necessarily guarantee uveal proliferations | In mice, [76–85] |
|
| Transgenic models of uveal melanoma | Spontaneous uveal melanoma in an immunocompetent animal with a genetic background similar to human uveal melanoma | No reliable hematogenous metastasis to the liver yet | Promising basis which demands further research | In mice, [86]
In zebrafish, [Rose, unpublished] |
|
| Induced models | Easy to induce | In wild type animals uncontrolled, undirected tumorigenesis | If performed in transgenic animals potentially a promising approach | Viruses, [87, 88] Chemicals/radiation [89], reviewed in [18] |
|
| Models of liver metastasis | Investigation of behavior of metastatic uveal/cutaneous melanoma cells | No “true” metastatic process from a primary tumor, partially in immunosuppressed animals | If using metastatic cell lines, screening of novel antimetastatic compounds is possible | Primary human cell lines in mice, [49–51, 59, 60, 90–92]
Primary human cell lines in rabbits, [64, 67]
Metastatic human cell lines in mice, [50, 59, 61, 90, 93]
Metastatic human cell lines in others, [72, 94] |
|
