Investigation of a new murine model of regional lymph node metastasis: characteristics of the model and applications

Animal models of spontaneous renal carcinoma: A possible rebirth?

Introduction and Objectives The animal models for renal carcinogenesis have allowed researchers to better understand the physiopathological, genetic, molecular, and immunological mechanisms underlying the development of human renal cancers from the induction of precancerous lesions to the metastatic process. Our study aimed to review and discuss the characteristics of all the spontaneous animal models of renal carcinogenesis described in scientific literature to date and see how they could address future challenges in the field of personalized medicine. Methods and Materials We reviewed all the papers on PubMed which focus on spontaneous animal models of renal carcinogenesis. To do so, we used the keywords "spontaneous" AND "animal model" AND "renal cancer" in the PubMed search engine. We also conducted a search using the keywords "spontaneous" AND "animal model" AND "kidney cancer." PRISMA recommendations were used for the literature review. Results A total of 213 publications were found on PubMed with the keywords "spontaneous" AND "animal model" AND "kidney cancer." 219 publications were found on PubMed with the keywords "spontaneous" AND "animal model" AND "renal cancer." After pooling these 2 searches and removing the duplicate publications, 233 publications remained. Among these, 220 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility; 160 were removed because they were irrelevant to our topic, and the remaining 60 studies were included in our qualitative synthesis. Conclusions Many spontaneous animal models have been developed to study renal cancer. So far, these models have enabled the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying renal cancer. Though less appropriate than patient xenografts from the perspective of personalized medicine, we believe animal models can help medical professionals better understand the hows and whys of the genetic events underlying the intratumoral heterogeneity and spatial distribution of metastatic subclones.

Preclinical models of regional lymph node tumor metastasis

Animal models have produced vital information regarding the mechanisms of RLN metastasis. Modern imaging and molecular techniques have made it clear that growing tumors secrete cytokines that induce invasion, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, increased intratumoral IFV and IFP, increased fluid flow from the tumor to the surrounding tissues, increased lymphatic flow, an increase in the rate of entry of tumor cells into lymphatic capillaries, and an increased number of tumor cells reaching the RLN(s). This is important knowledge that will help direct translational research in human patients. We can look forward to continued improvement in the management of human tumors that metastasize to the RLNs.

Molecular mechanisms of metastasis

A major topic covered at the First International Symposium on Cancer Metastasis and the Lymphovascular System was the molecular mechanisms of metastasis. This has become of major interest in recent years as we have discovered new metastasis-related genes and gained understanding of the molecular events of lymphatic metastasis. The symposium covered new aspects and important questions related to the events of metastasis in both humans and animals. The basic and clinical related research covered in this topic represented many disciplines. The presentations showed novel findings and at the same time, raised many new unanswered questions, indicating the limited knowledge we still have regarding the molecular events of metastasis. The hope is that further unraveling of the direct and indirect molecular events of lymphatic metastasis will lead to new approaches in developing effective therapeutics.

Artificial lymphogenous metastatic model using orthotopic implantation of human lung cancer

BACKGROUND AND METHODS

We established a new, patientlike orthotopic model of lung cancer metastasis with human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. In this report, we describe the progressive stages of development of lymphogenous mediastinal metastasis in the Ma44-3 cell line from day 3 to day 15 after implantation in severe combined immunodeficiency mice and the process of lymphogenous metastasis.

RESULTS

All mice killed after day 12 had perivascular and peribronchial tumor growth. Micrometastasis to the mediastinum was first observed on day 5. On days 5 through 9, 10 of 13 mice had metastasis to the mediastinum, and all mice had one by day 12. When perivascular and peribronchial tumor growth was present by day 5, metastasis to the mediastinum developed in all mice.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the lymphogenous spread of human lung cancer in severe combined immunodeficiency mouse using an orthotopic implantation model. Our model was thought to be an artificial lymphogenous metastasis model, owing to forced tumor inoculation into lymphatic vessels.

The lymphnodal clonogenicity and kinetics of metastatic cells disseminated by a transplanted rat carcinoma

We report data on the transplantation of primary tumour cells and of lymph nodes containing metastatic cells disseminated by a mammary carcinoma (LMC1) implanted s.c. in the Johns' Strain Wistar rat. A new method is described for deriving the TD50 of metastatic cells and for comparing their lymphnodal clonogenicity in the transplanted and the original, i.e. 'primary' tumour host. The TD50 for transplanted primary LMC1 cells was approximately 12 (fiducial limits 8-20 cells), and the latency of the 8-10mm tumours formed (T8-10) after inocula of 10(2) to 10(5) cells decreased linearly with the logarithmic increase in the number of cells injected. From the T8-10 and tumour incidence data for transplanted inguinal, axillary and para-aortic nodes, the TD50 for metastatic cells was calculated to be 1120 cells (fiducial limits 790-1603 cells) indicating that the clonogenicity of naturally disseminated metastatic cells was about a 100 fold lower than that determined for transplanted primary tumour cells. The incidence and T8-10 data for axillary, inguinal and para-aortic lymph node metastases in primary-tumour-excised hosts suggests that, although metastatic cells may continue translymphnodal dissemination in situ, their TD50 is still consistent with that determined by node transplantation.

The pattern and timing of lymphatic metastasis of the rat carcinoma LMC

The distribution pattern and latency of lymphatic metastases naturally disseminated by the Leeds Mammary Carcinoma (LMC1) when transplanted subcutaneously in isogeneic Johns' Strain Wistar rats has been determined. After the curative local irradiation and excision of the primary tumour in 210 rats, 55 +/- 3 per cent developed either local (26 +/- 3 per cent), and/or regional (28 +/- 3 per cent) and/or distant (37 +/- 3 per cent) lymph node metastases. Analysis of their pattern of distribution suggests that metastasis to local (inguinal and lumbar) and distant (axillary and mediastinal) nodes results mainly from the radial dissemination, trapping and nodal proliferation of cells released by the primary tumour. Although direct metastasis to the para-aortic node may have occurred, in the main seeding of this site and thence to other, regional, i.e. iliac and/or adrenal nodes, resulted from the dissemination of tumour cells from the local nodes. The latency of metastases appearing at different sites after primary tumour ablation, although highly variable, was site dependent and for local, regional and distant nodes was 30 +/- 14, 48 +/- 16, 56 +/- 17 days respectively. In addition, the latency of metastases at regional and distant nodes was directly correlated with the latency of local metastases. The latency of adrenal and iliac metastases also correlated with para-aortic node metastasis, as did mediastinal with axillary lymph node metastasis. From the data, a semi-quantitative model of lymphatic metastasis has been developed for further evaluation and adjuvant chemotherapy testing.