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Establishment of a visualized mouse orthotopic xenograft model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Wei Chen1,2, Wei-Min Chen1, Si-Xia Chen1
1Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Abstract:
Mouse orthotopic xenograft tumor models are commonly employed in studies investigating the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of tumors and their preclinical treatment. However, the unavailability of mature and visualized orthotopic xenograft models of nasopharyngeal carcinoma limits the development of treatment strategies for this cancer. The aim of this study was to provide a simple and reliable method for building an orthotopic xenograft model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (C666-1-luc) cells, stably expressing the firefly luciferase gene, were injected subcutaneously into the right axilla of BALB/C nude mice. Four weeks later, the resulting subcutaneous tumors were cut into small blocks and grafted into the nasopharynx of immunodeficient BALB/C nude mice to induce tumor formation. Tumor growth was monitored by bioluminescence imaging and small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The expression of histological and immunological antigens associated with orthotopic xenograft nasopharyngeal carcinoma was analyzed by tissue section analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC). A visualized orthotopic xenograft nasopharyngeal carcinoma model was successfully developed in this study. Luminescence signal detection, micro-MRI, and hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed the successful growth of tumors in the nasopharynx of the nude mice. Moreover, IHC analysis detected cytokeratin (CK), CK5/6, P40, and P63 expression in the orthotopic tumors, consistent with the reported expression of these antigens in human nasopharyngeal tumors. This study established a reproducible, visual, and less lethal orthotopic xenograft model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, providing a platform for preclinical research.
Insights
Researchers developed a reproducible, visualized orthotopic xenograft model for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in mice. This model aids in studying NPC progression and evaluating preclinical treatments, overcoming limitations of previous methods.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Preclinical Cancer Models
- Translational Research
Background:
- Orthotopic xenograft tumor models are crucial for studying cancer mechanisms and preclinical treatment efficacy.
- The lack of mature, visualized orthotopic xenograft models for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) hinders treatment strategy development.
- A reliable method for creating such models is needed to advance NPC research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a simple, reliable, and visualized orthotopic xenograft model for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
- To provide a platform for investigating NPC development, progression, and preclinical treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Human NPC cells (C666-1-luc) expressing luciferase were injected subcutaneously into nude mice.
- Subcutaneous tumors were harvested and grafted into the nasopharynx of immunodeficient mice.
- Tumor growth was monitored using bioluminescence imaging and small animal MRI; histological and immunological antigen expression was analyzed via IHC.
Main Results:
- A visualized orthotopic xenograft NPC model was successfully established in nude mice.
- Tumor growth in the nasopharynx was confirmed by luminescence, micro-MRI, and H&E staining.
- Immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression of key antigens (CK, CK5/6, P40, P63) consistent with human NPC.
Conclusions:
- This study presents a reproducible, visual, and less lethal orthotopic xenograft model for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
- The developed model serves as a valuable platform for preclinical research and the advancement of NPC treatment strategies.
