Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Tumor Transplantation for Assessing the Dynamics of Tumor-Infiltrating CD8+ T Cells in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2021
X-linked dominant growth suppression of transplanted tumors in C57BL/6J-scid mice
Mark Wood1, Taturo Udagawa, Yasuhiro Hida
1Vascular Biology Program and Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Abstract:
Tumor susceptibility, angiogenesis, and immune response differ between mouse strains. We, therefore, examined the growth rates of tumor xenografts in three genetically isolated strains of severe combined immunodeficient mice (C.B-17, C57BL/6J, and C3H). Tumors grew at significantly reduced rates in the C57BL/6J-scid strain. Engrafting bone marrow from the C57BL/6J-scid strain onto C.B-17-scid mice did not transfer the slow-growing tumor phenotype to the recipient mice; this counters the supposition that the slow-growing tumor phenotype is caused by a greater immune response to the xenograft in the C57BL/6J-scid strain. To establish the inheritance pattern of the slow-growing tumor phenotype, we reciprocally crossed C.B-17-scid mice and C57BL/6J-scid mice. Tumor growth was suppressed in all of the F1 progeny except the male mice derived from the cross between C.B-17-scid female and C57BL/6J-scid male mice. The F1 male mice that received the X chromosome from the C.B-17 strain displayed a fast-growing tumor phenotype. These results confirm that there are significant strain differences in capacity to support the growth of tumor xenografts. In addition, these results reveal the existence of a dominant allele involved in host suppression of tumor growth on the X chromosome of C57BL/6J mice.
Insights
Tumor growth varies by mouse strain. C57BL/6J-scid mice show suppressed tumor growth, linked to a dominant gene on the X chromosome, impacting xenograft development.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Oncology
Background:
- Host factors significantly influence tumor xenograft growth rates.
- Genetic background of mice, including immune status, plays a critical role in tumor susceptibility.
- Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice are commonly used for xenograft studies, but strain-specific differences exist.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential growth rates of tumor xenografts in distinct mouse strains.
- To determine the genetic basis for the observed variations in tumor growth suppression.
- To identify the specific genetic elements responsible for host-mediated tumor growth control.
Main Methods:
- Tumor xenografts were implanted into three genetically distinct SCID mouse strains: C.B-17-scid, C57BL/6J-scid, and C3H-scid.
- Bone marrow transplantation was performed from C57BL/6J-scid to C.B-17-scid mice to assess immune-mediated effects.
- Reciprocal crosses between C.B-17-scid and C57BL/6J-scid mice were conducted to analyze inheritance patterns of tumor growth phenotypes.
Main Results:
- Tumor xenografts exhibited significantly reduced growth rates in C57BL/6J-scid mice compared to other strains.
- Bone marrow transplantation did not transfer the slow-growing phenotype, suggesting a non-immune mechanism.
- Reciprocal crosses revealed that tumor growth suppression is X-linked and influenced by the paternal C.B-17-scid strain in male progeny, while C57BL/6J-scid males showed fast growth.
- A dominant allele on the X chromosome of C57BL/6J mice was identified as responsible for suppressing tumor growth.
Conclusions:
- Significant strain-dependent variations exist in the capacity of mice to support tumor xenograft growth.
- Host genetic factors, specifically a dominant allele on the X chromosome of C57BL/6J mice, play a crucial role in suppressing tumor growth.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering host genetics in xenograft models for cancer research and drug development.
More Related Videos
07:13Initiation of Metastatic Breast Carcinoma by Targeting of the Ductal Epithelium with Adenovirus-Cre: A Novel Transgenic Mouse Model of Breast Cancer
Published on: March 26, 2014
10:13Tailoring In Vivo Cytotoxicity Assays to Study Immunodominance in Tumor-specific CD8+ T Cell Responses
Published on: May 6, 2019
