Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Testing Cancer Immunotherapeutics in a Humanized Mouse Model Bearing Human Tumors
Published on: December 16, 2022
CCI-779 plus cisplatin is highly effective against human melanoma in a SCID mouse xenotranplantation model
C Thallinger1, W Poeppl, B Pratscher
1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Division of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Background:
This study set out to investigate the antitumor effects of a treatment strategy combining the mTOR inhibitor CCI-779 with cisplatin in vitro and in a human melanoma SCID mouse model.
Methods:
In vitro 518A2, Mel-JUSO or 607B cell lines were incubated with CCI-779, cisplatin and CCI-779 plus cisplatin. Based on these results, a 4-group, parallel, controlled experimental study design was initiated in vivo. SCID mice were injected with melanoma cells, and after the development of tumors the mice received daily injections of CCI-779 or solvent. On treatment days 2 and 6 cisplatin or mock solution were administered.
Results:
In vitro a synergistic antitumor effect was observed for the treatment regimen of CCI-779 plus cisplatin. In SCID mice after 2 weeks of therapy with CCI-779 plus cisplatin 4 of 6 tumors of the 518A2 cell line were completely eradicated. In the two remaining 518A2 xenografts this treatment strategy reduced the tumor weight by 94 +/- 9% compared to solvent. CCI-779 plus cisplatin also exerted a significant antitumor effect in Mel-JUSO and 607B xenografts compared to mock-treated animals.
Conclusion:
We provide circumstantial evidence that the use of CCI-779 plus cisplatin might qualify as a promising strategy in the treatment of human melanoma.
