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Tian H, Lyu Y, Yang YG, Hu Z. Humanized Rodent Models for Cancer Research. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1696. [PMID: 33042811 PMCID: PMC7518015 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the most popular laboratory animal models, rodents have been playing crucial roles in mechanistic investigations of oncogenesis as well as anticancer drug or regimen discoveries. However, rodent tumors show different or no responses to therapies against human cancers, and thus, in recent years, increased attention has been given to mouse models with xenografted or spontaneous human cancer cells. By combining with the human immune system (HIS) mice, these models have become more sophisticated and robust, enabling in vivo exploration of human cancer immunology and immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the pros and cons of these humanized mouse models, with a focus on their potential as an in vivo platform for human cancer research. We also discuss the strategies for further improving these models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Tian
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Yanan Lyu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Yong-Guang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China.,International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zheng Hu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
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Shultz LD, Goodwin N, Ishikawa F, Hosur V, Lyons BL, Greiner DL. Human cancer growth and therapy in immunodeficient mouse models. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2014; 2014:694-708. [PMID: 24987146 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top073585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of the "nude" mouse more than 40 years ago, investigators have attempted to model human tumor growth in immunodeficient mice. Here, we summarize how the field has advanced over the ensuing years owing to improvements in the murine recipients of human tumors. These improvements include the discovery of the scid mutation and development of targeted mutations in the recombination-activating genes 1 and 2 (Rag1(null), Rag2(null)) that severely cripple the adaptive immune response of the murine host. More recently, mice deficient in adaptive immunity have been crossed with mice bearing targeted mutations designed to weaken the innate immune system, ultimately leading to the development of immunodeficient mice bearing a targeted mutation in the gene encoding the interleukin 2 (IL2) receptor common γ chain (IL2rg(null), also known in humans as cytokine receptor common subunit γ). The IL2rg(null) mutation has been used to develop several immunodeficient strains of mice, including the NOD-scid IL2rg(null) (NSG) strain. Using NSG mice as human xenograft recipients, it is now possible to grow almost all types of primary human tumors in vivo, including most solid tumors and hematological malignancies that maintain characteristics of the primary tumor in the patient. Programs to optimize patient-specific therapy using patient-derived xenograft tumor growth in NSG mice have been established at several institutions, including The Jackson Laboratory. Moreover, NSG mice can be engrafted with functional human immune systems, permitting for the first time the potential to study primary human tumors in vivo in the presence of a human immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fumihiko Ishikawa
- The Laboratory for Human Disease Models, RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | | | | | - Dale L Greiner
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
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Matsuda Y, Yoshimura H, Ueda J, Naito Z, Korc M, Ishiwata T. Nestin delineates pancreatic cancer stem cells in metastatic foci of NOD/Shi-scid IL2Rγ(null) (NOG) mice. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2014; 184:674-85. [PMID: 24412093 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2013.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Revised: 10/05/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with a high incidence of hepatic metastases, as well as occasional pulmonary metastases. To delineate the potential role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in PDAC metastasis, human PDAC cells were injected into the spleen of mice. The characteristics and expression of markers associated with CSC and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of metastatic cells that developed in the liver and lung were then compared with parental cells. The metastatic cells were polygonal, and larger than parental cells. Metastatic cells also exhibited decreased proliferation and increased adhesion to extracellular matrices, as well as enhanced migration and invasion in vitro and increased metastatic capacity in vivo. The CSC markers ALDH1A1, ABCG2, and nestin were expressed at high levels in metastatic cells and exhibited changes consistent with EMT (eg, decreased E-cadherin expression). Moreover, metastatic cells readily formed spheres in culture and exhibited an increased side population by flow analysis. Nestin and ABCG2 were also expressed at high levels in metastatic lesions from PDAC patients, and silencing nestin with shRNA in PDAC cells derived from lung metastases resulted in a marked decrease in the capacity of the cells to form spheres and to yield pulmonary or hepatic metastases. Thus, the metastatic potential of human PDAC cells correlates with CSCs and with EMT characteristics and is dependent on nestin expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Matsuda
- Departments of Pathology and Integrative Oncological Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hisashi Yoshimura
- Departments of Pathology and Integrative Oncological Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junji Ueda
- Departments of Pathology and Integrative Oncological Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Surgery for Organ and Biological Regulation, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Zenya Naito
- Departments of Pathology and Integrative Oncological Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Murray Korc
- Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine and the Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Toshiyuki Ishiwata
- Departments of Pathology and Integrative Oncological Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
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Abstract
Tumor transplant studies are important tools for studying cancer biology in a model organism. Transplantation is especially important for assaying tumor cell malignancy and migration capabilities, and is critical for identifying putative cancer stem cell populations. In this review, we discuss the current state of tumor transplantation studies performed in the zebrafish. We address several zebrafish-specific considerations for development of the transplant assay, including choosing recipient animals, transplant methods, and post-transplant observation. We also examine how the zebrafish is an advantageous model for transplantation, particularly with development of the translucent fish. Transplantation has already been critical for characterizing zebrafish models of leukemia, rhabdomyosarcoma, and melanoma. With further development of imaging techniques and other tools, zebrafish tumor transplantation will continue to contribute to our understanding of tumor cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison M Taylor
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Nanni P, Nicoletti G, Landuzzi L, Croci S, Murgo A, Palladini A, Antognoli A, Ianzano ML, Stivani V, Grosso V, Maira SM, García-Echeverría C, Scotlandi K, De Giovanni C, Lollini PL. High metastatic efficiency of human sarcoma cells in Rag2/gammac double knockout mice provides a powerful test system for antimetastatic targeted therapy. Eur J Cancer 2009; 46:659-68. [PMID: 20031388 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2009.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2009] [Revised: 11/13/2009] [Accepted: 11/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Immunodeficient animal models are invaluable tools to investigate the metastatic propensity of human tumours. However residual immune responses, in particular natural killer (NK) cells, severely hamper the traffic and growth of human tumour cells. We studied whether a genetically modified mouse host lacking T, B and NK immunity allowed an improved expression of the metastatic phenotype of malignant human tumours. Metastatic spread of a panel of human sarcoma cell lines was studied in double knockout Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mice in comparison with NK-depleted nude mice. Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mice receiving intravenous (i.v.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) human sarcoma cell lines developed extensive multiorgan metastases. Metastatic efficiency in Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) was superior than in nude mice in terms of both metastatic sites and metastasis number. Metastatic growth in Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mice was faster than that in nude mice, thus allowing an earlier metastasis evaluation. Most human sarcomas metastasised in the liver of Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mice, a kind of organ preference undetectable in nude mice and specific of sarcomas, as several carcinoma cell lines failed to colonise the liver of Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mice, independently of their metastatic spread to other sites. In vitro analysis of the molecular mechanisms of liver metastasis of sarcomas implicated liver-produced growth and motility factors, in particular the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis. NVP-BEZ235, a specific inhibitor of downstream signal transduction targeting PI3K and mTOR, strongly inhibited liver metastasis of human sarcoma cells. In conclusion, the Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mouse model allowed the expression of human metastatic phenotypes inapparent in conventional immunodeficient mice and the preclinical testing of appropriate targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Nanni
- Cancer Research Section, Department of Experimental Pathology, Viale Filopanti 22, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Machida K, Suemizu H, Kawai K, Ishikawa T, Sawada R, Ohnishi Y, Tsuchiya T. Higher susceptibility of NOG mice to xenotransplanted tumors. J Toxicol Sci 2009; 34:123-7. [PMID: 19182442 DOI: 10.2131/jts.34.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of tumorigenicity testing, as applied not only to cell substrates used for viral vaccine manufacture but also stem cells used for cell-based therapy, is to discriminate between cells that have the capacity to form tumors and cells that do not. Therefore, tumorigenicity testing is essential in assessing the safety of these biological materials. Recently developed NOD/Shi-scid IL2Rg(null) (NOG) mice have been shown to be superior to NOD/Shi-scid (SCID) mice for xenotransplantation of both normal and cancerous cells. To select a suitable mouse strain as a xenogenic host for tumorigenicity testing, we compared the susceptibility of NOG (T, B, and NK cell-defective), SCID (T and B cell-defective), and the traditionally used nude (T cell-defective) mice to tumor formation from xenotransplanted HeLa S3 cells. When 10(4) HeLa S3 cells were subcutaneously inoculated into the flanks of these mice, the tumor incidence on day 22 was 10/10 (100%) in NOG, 2/10 (20%) in SCID, and 0/10 (0%) in nude mice. The subcutaneous tumors formed reproducibly and semiquantitatively in a dose-dependent manner. Unexpectedly, half of the NOG mice (5/10) that had been inoculated with a mere 10(1) HeLa S3 cells formed progressively growing subcutaneous tumors on day 78. We confirmed that the engrafted tumors originated from inoculated HeLa S3 cells by immunohistochemical staining with anti-HLA antibodies. These data suggest that NOG mice may be the best choice as a suitable strain for testing tumorigenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiko Machida
- Testing Services Department, Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kanagawa 216-0001, Japan
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