Metastatic brain tumor model in mice that mimics the neoplastic cascade in humans

This study reports a model of metastatic tumor to the brains of mice. A sequentially colonized brain-homing tumor line was developed from the KHT sarcoma and was injected into the right hind foot of syngeneic C3H female mice. When tumor was just grossly apparent in the foot, the tumor-bearing leg was amputated at the midthigh level, thus surgically curing each mouse of its primary tumor. Mice were followed to death and were autopsied for evidence of metastatic tumor. All mice had metastatic pulmonary tumor nodules, and approximately 80% of the mice had metastatic deposits of tumor in the brain. Because this model mimics the situation in humans where patients die of metastatic disease at some time after the removal of their primary cancer, it should be of value in further delineating factors that influence the development and growth of metastatic tumor in the central nervous system.