Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
Minimally Invasive Establishment of Murine Orthotopic Bladder Xenografts
Published on: February 11, 2014
Patient-derived sialyl-Tn-positive invasive bladder cancer xenografts in nude mice: an exploratory model study
Carina Bernardo1, Céu Costa, Teresina Amaro
1Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology Francisco Gentil, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. llarasantos@gmail.com.
Background:
More than 70% of muscle invasive bladder cancers (MIBC) express the cell-surface antigen sialyl-Tn (sTn) that promotes motility and invasive potential of tumor cells. Effective drug testing models to optimize therapy against these tumors are warranted.
Materials And Methods:
Fragments of sTn-positive MIBC were subcutaneously engrafted into nude mice and expanded until the third passage. Histology and immunoexpression of tumor markers (p53, p63, Ki-67, CK20, sTn) were studied in order to evaluate tumor phenotype maintenance.
Results:
Tumor take rate was low in the first passage (1/9) but increased and became consistent, therefore suitable for drug testing, in the third passage (13/13). Histology and immunoexpression patterns were similar between primary tumors and xenografts. However, p53 and ki-67 levels increased with passages suggesting a selection of more proliferative clones. STn expression, even though decreased, was preserved in xenografts.
Conclusion:
We describe the first patient-derived sTn-positive xenograft model to be used for drug testing and identification of prognostic biomarkers.
