Of mice and men

The aim of all preclinical research is to provide evidence that a compound will work in humans. Obviously, if preclinical research were perfect clinical trials would be unnecessary - a fact that seems to have been lost in last week's investor and media feeding frenzy over anti-angiogenic compounds in preclinical development by EntreMed Inc.

Given the ease with which some mice are cured of cancer, companies would do well if they just could turn human patients into mice. Barring that, the issue remains just how much knowledge is gained from mouse studies, and why laboratory mice respond to so many anti-cancer compounds that fail in humans...