Resumen
Cancer stands as the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States. Some of these pediatric cancers are highly aggressive and complex in nature. Current in vitro models often fail to accurately replicate the tumor microenvironment, while in vivo models face time and cost constraints. This review article emphasizes the unique advantages of zebrafish models in pediatric cancer research due to their genetic similarity to humans, short experimental timeline, ease of genetic manipulations, rapid in vivo tumor development, and transparent bodies that facilitate precise tumor cell tracking at single-cell resolution. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature and experimental findings, the article highlights the potential of zebrafish as a valuable preclinical model for studying tumor biology, expediting drug discovery and screening processes, and implementing personalized medicine strategies for treating pediatric cancers.