Why we cannot do without animal testing in cancer research

The desire to completely replace animal testing in cancer research is understandable. However, this demand cannot be implemented at present or with concrete milestones. In biomedical cancer research in particular, animal experiments are still absolutely essential, at least for the time being.

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According to the WHO, we will see a 20% increase in annual cancer cases in Germany and Europe within 20 years. The task of cancer research is to develop effective prevention and early detection for the increasing number of patients, through to innovative diagnostic procedures and effective treatment options.

In order to make progress in these areas, we at the German Cancer Research Center are already using all available methods and model systems: We conduct research on molecules and proteins, on cell and tissue cultures, on tissue samples, organoids and with computer models. Epidemiological and imaging studies also provide valuable results. But cancer is a disease that affects the whole body. As the tumor grows and spreads, the cancer cell comes into close contact with countless other cells and tissues in the body. All these interactions contribute significantly to the development and progression of cancer. Research into this high level of complexity cannot be tied to a fixed schedule and can only be carried out in an intact organism, which means that we will not be able to do without animal studies in cancer research in the foreseeable future.

Hellmut Augustin, Head of the Department of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis

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An outstanding success for innovative cancer research - which would not have been possible without the use of animal testing - is the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors: the active substances, also known as "immunotherapy", were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2018. Some spectacular successes have been achieved with these innovative drugs, and they give many patients new hope in their fight against cancer due to their remarkable effectiveness.

The legal obligation to replace the use of animals when new animal-free methods become available is already firmly anchored in EU legislation and enables a gradual and therefore sensible approach hand in hand with scientific progress. The existing legal requirements for the performance of animal experiments rightly stipulate an extremely strict weighing up of the benefits and harm to the animals as well as the ethical justifiability of animal experiments.

Ana Martin Villalba, Head of the Department of Molecular Neurobiology

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Animal experiments may only be carried out by personnel with the appropriate proven knowledge and require prior application and approval from the authorities. They are subject to the German Animal Welfare Act, one of the strictest in the world, as well as constant and close monitoring by animal welfare officers, veterinary offices and local authorities.

However, the understandable desire and demand to completely replace animal testing does not change the reality of what is scientifically possible today. The development of alternative methods would also be delayed without animal testing, as these ultimately always have to be tested against studies on animals. The transition to animal-free research can only take place if a fully-fledged methodological replacement is available.

This will require continued major efforts in basic biomedical research. We are facing up to this responsibility and the associated challenges.

Stefan Pfister, Director of the Hopp Children's Tumor Center (KiTZ) in Heidelberg and Head of the Department of Pediatric Neurooncology at the DKFZ

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Jens Puschhof, Research Group Leader Epithelial-Microenvironment Interactions, Dept. of Microbiome and Cancer

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