Development of a metastatic human colon cancer xenograft model in the nude mouse

The objective of our experimental protocols was to develop a metastatic model for a human colon carcinoma xenograft in congenitally athymic nude mice. This model would be useful in evaluating the efficacy of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies for detection and treatment of regional and distant metastases. The LS-174T human colon carcinoma line was used to establish primary subcutaneous tumors in nude mice. Mice were killed at varying time intervals to establish the incidence of spontaneous metastases. Only lung micrometastases were observed during the 2-month observation period. To increase the metastatic rate, the site of primary implantation was varied and/or surgical manipulations were performed. Excision of small primary tumors resulted in a low incidence of local recurrence and no distant metastases. However, with excision of large primary tumors, a high local recurrence rate was noted and over 30% of mice had gross metastases. Mice bearing hind footpad tumors underwent excision when tumors were at least 1 cm in size. There were no local recurrences, but by 8 weeks over 40% had large pulmonary metastases. The LS-174T tumor was also established as a primary implant in the spleen from which 10 to 15% of the mice developed liver or lung metastases. The LS-174T tumor can metastasize in the nude mice and the latter two models may prove very useful in imaging and therapy studies.