Establishment of a reproducible transplantable sarcoma in a rat

Animal models are valuable tools in cancer research. Mice are the most commonly used animals but for surgical procedures, such as bowel anastomosis and organ perfusions, larger animals (e.g. rats) are preferable. Unfortunately, rat cell-lines are scarce and rat strains are ample, so that adaptation of a cell-line to the specific strain used in individual laboratories is difficult. In this study we present a simple and reproducible model of rat carcinogenesis.

Carcinogenesis was induced by 7,12 dimethylbenzantracene dissolved in wax and paraffin at 60 degrees C. For matrix production, we used HTR polymers. The resulting particles were implanted subcutaneously (SC).

Tumors occurred in all rats. The resulting tumors, designated GF, were locally invasive with low metastatic potential. In vitro doubling time was 7.5 hours. Injection of 5 x 10(6) cells or transplantation of a tumor fragment resulted in a visible tumor within six weeks. The histologic picture and immunohistochemical pattern were consistent with pleomorphic soft tissue sarcoma of myogenic origin.

This method will enable an individual laboratory to create and maintain a sarcoma cell line that will effectively grow in its own rats.