The patient‐derived xenograft (PDX) model is a crucial in vivo model extensively employed in cancer research that has been shown to maintain the genomic characteristics and pathological structure of patients across various subtypes, metastatic, and diverse treatment histories. Various treatment strategies utilized in PDX models can offer valuable insights into the mechanisms of tumor progression, drug resistance, and the development of novel therapies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the establishment and applications of PDX models. We present an overview of the history and current status of PDX models, elucidate the diverse construction methodologies employed for different tumors, and conduct a comparative analysis to highlight the distinct advantages and limitations of this model in relation to other in vivo models. The applications are elucidated in the domain of comprehending the mechanisms underlying tumor development and cancer therapy, which highlights broad applications in the fields of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, delivery systems, combination therapy, antibody–drug conjugates and radiotherapy. Furthermore, the combination of the PDX model with multiomics and single‐cell analyses for cancer research has also been emphasized. The application of the PDX model in clinical treatment and personalized medicine is additionally emphasized.

Patient‐derived xenograft (PDX) models provide a robust preclinical platform that preserves the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of patient tumors while mirroring their tumor genetic characteristics, which retain malignant cells and the tumor pathological structure, making them valuable for studying tumor progression and developing anticancer therapies. This review outlines the establishment of PDX models and their applications in tumor research by comparing their attributes and limitations with other experimental models. It explores the use of PDX models in understanding tumor progression mechanisms, resistance mechanisms, and treatment strategies, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, nanotherapy, cell therapy, antibody‐drug conjugates, and combination therapy. Integration of PDX models with multi‐omics technologies is also discussed, along with their application in co‐clinical and clinical studies. Notably, this review covers approximately 30 cancer types and aims to guide future cancer research.

Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, the notion of "food and medicine homology" emphasize that such substances should possess both pharmacological properties and nutritional benefits. Moreover, their primary constituents must exhibit low toxicity or be virtually non-toxic, ensuring safety for prolonged consumption. These properties appear to provide novel opportunities for the development of low-toxicity tumor treatments. Although numerous food and medicine homology herbs or relevant active compounds have demonstrated anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo, such findings cannot be directly translated into a comprehensive understanding of food and medicine homology substances' potential in cancer treatment. The existing research results still have a significant gap from actual clinical applications. It is imperative to discuss whether the use of food and medicine homology substances for cancer treatment constitutes an academic deception or represents clinically valuable scientific exploration. Consequently, it is imperative to elucidate the theoretical foundations and underscore the necessity of conducting relevant research. Furthermore, clearly articulating specific research ideas is crucial, as this will enhance the practical significance and clinical value of such studies.