Local bone resorption induced by serially transplantable human renal cell carcinoma in nude mice

The high incidence of metastatic bone disease in urological cancer makes it necessary for clinicians to look for a valid experimental model to investigate the basic interactions between cancer cells and bone in order to improve the treatment. A new model of bone resorption was defined, namely the subcutaneous injection of tumor cell suspensions of serially transplanted renal cell carcinoma in nude mice after disruption of the periosteum of the calvaria. The tumor induced osteolysis associated with osteoclast proliferation with reactive bone formation. The X-p film from nude mice calvaria showed the same multiple osteolytic punched-out lesions as those of the patient's skull.