ZZW-115 is an efficient strategy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma" [1], we would like to have the opportunity to reply to the letter published by Dr. Jiong Lin in Cancer Letters on the 21st of Nov. 2020.Dr. Lin raised some concerns about the use of HepG2 s.c. xenograft in BALB/c nude mice to study the antitumoral effect of ZZW-115 against hepatocellular carcinoma.This concern comes from the fact that HepG 2cells are classified by ATCC and cell bank of Chinese Academy of Science as non-tumorigenic in nude mice and on his own experience.However, the choosing of this in vivo model in our work is well justified and supported since HepG2 xenograft has largely used in several previous papers.In fact, HepG2 xenografts have been used by many scientists in diverse laboratories across the world since 1989 [3].Then, more than 100 papers, indexed in PubMed.gov in peer-reviewed journals, have been published.This model has allowed many scientists to better understand the mechanisms of development, progression, and resistance of liver cancer, as well as develop successful preclin. treatments against this aggressive disease.Therefore, this overwhelming amount of scientific papers guaranteed us that this model can be suc cessfully developed and be used as a model of study in our research project.On the other hand, it is worth to point that the successful develop ment of HepG2 xenograft, as well as other cell lines.
