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Using the Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane In Vivo Model to Study Gynecological and Urological Cancers
Published on: January 28, 2020
The avian chorioallantoic membrane as an alternative tool to study medullary thyroid cancer
Nassim Ghaffari-Tabrizi-Wizsy1, Christina Angelika Passegger1, Laura Nebel1
1Otto Loewi Research Center - Immunology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Abstract:
Preclinical trials of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) therapeutics require both in vitro and in vivo analyses. Human tumour xenografted rodent models, which are considered the 'gold standard' to study and validate the efficacy and toxicity of lead compounds before translation to clinical trials, are very expensive, subject to organismal variability and ethical controversies. The avian chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay provides an alternative versatile, cost-effective and ethically less objectionable short-term, in vivo model for reliable screening of drugs. In this work, we grafted two MTC cell lines and patient-derived MTC tumour samples onto the avian CAM and characterised the resulted tumours histologically and immunohistochemically. Our findings provide the evidence that the CAM assay is a suitable model for studying the pathophysiology of MTC and can even be used as in vivo system for drug testing.
Insights
The avian chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay offers a cost-effective, ethical in vivo alternative for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) research. This model effectively supports MTC pathophysiology studies and preclinical drug testing.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Comparative Pathology
- Drug Development
Background:
- Preclinical medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) research necessitates in vitro and in vivo models.
- Current gold-standard rodent xenograft models are costly, variable, and raise ethical concerns.
- The avian chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay presents a viable alternative in vivo model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the avian CAM assay as a model for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).
- To assess the CAM assay's suitability for studying MTC pathophysiology and drug screening.
Main Methods:
- Grafting of two MTC cell lines and patient-derived MTC tumor samples onto the avian CAM.
- Histological and immunohistochemical characterization of the resultant tumors on the CAM.
Main Results:
- Successful grafting and characterization of MTC tumors on the avian CAM.
- Demonstrated histological and immunohistochemical similarities to human MTC.
Conclusions:
- The avian CAM assay is a suitable and valuable in vivo model for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) research.
- The CAM assay can be utilized for studying MTC pathophysiology and for preclinical drug testing.
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