Fig. 2: Animal models of brain metastases radiation response.

Preclinical models of brain metastases may use cancer cell lines, patient-derived tissue, or co-culture models as the source of tumor cells. These may then be administered through heterotopic or orthotopic transplantation. After engraftment, radiation treatment can be given to model whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Subsequent readouts may include transcriptomic, histological, and radiologic data to identify clinically relevant biomarkers of radiation response.