In this study, tumor xenografts, cancer cell lines and their corresponding normal samples were fully characterized using whole-genome sequencing.

The lack of representative nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) models has seriously hampered research on EBV carcinogenesis and preclinical studies in NPC. Fifty-eight NPC specimens were transplanted in immunodeficient mice to initiate growth of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Five NPC PDXs were successfully generated. The take rates for primary and recurrent NPC were 4.9% and 17.6%, respectively. The suppression of lytic reactivation of EBV by the Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinases inhibitor (Y27632) in vitro resulted in the successful establishment of a new EBV-positive NPC cell line (NPC43). Spontaneous lytic reactivation of EBV and production of infectious EBV were observed in NPC43 upon withdrawal of Y27632. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) revealed similar mutational profiles of these PDXs with their corresponding patient NPC. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) delineated the genomic landscape and sequences of EBV genomes in these NPC models. The genomic profiles of these models support their uses for future studies in NPC.