In vivo C6 glioma models: an update and a guide toward a more effective preclinical evaluation of potential anti-glioblastoma drugs

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor with a poor prognosis and few therapeutic choices. In vivo, tumor models are useful for enhancing knowledge of underlying GBM pathology and developing more effective therapies/agents at the preclinical level, as they recapitulate human brain tumors. The C6 glioma cell line has been one of the most widely used cell lines in neuro-oncology research as they produce tumors that share the most similarities with human GBM regarding genetic, invasion, and expansion profiles and characteristics. This review provides an overview of the distinctive features and the different animal models produced by the C6 cell line. We also highlight specific applications of various C6 in vivo models according to the purpose of the study and offer some technical notes for more convenient/repeatable modeling. This work also includes novel findings discovered in our laboratory, which would further enhance the feasibility of the model in preclinical GBM investigations.

Quantitative Comparison of Gold Nanoparticle Delivery via the Enhanced Permeation and Retention (EPR) Effect and Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC)-Based Targeting

There are still some gaps in existing knowledge in the field of cancer nanotheranostics, e.g., the efficiency of nanoparticle-loaded cells for targeted delivery. In the current study, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were delivered to tumors in both subcutaneous tumor and lung metastasis tumor models by intravenous injection of either free Au NPs or of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which were loaded with endocytosed Au NPs. By making injections with the same dose of administrated Au NPs, it was possible to directly compare tumor targeting of both delivery modes. Hereby, the passive targeting of tumor by the plain Au NPs was facilitated by the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. Au NP retention by tumors, as well as tumor penetration, were found to be improved up to 2.4-to-9.3-fold when comparing the MSC-mediated delivery of Au NPs to the delivery of the plain Au NPs via EPR effect on day 7 post administration. While the absolute retention of Au NPs in the tumor remained low, our data show that, upon injection of the same amount of Au NPs, in fact MSC-mediated delivery is quantitatively higher than EPR-mediated delivery of NPs by half an order of magnitude.

Ossifying Fibromyxoid Tumor: A Rare Subcutaneous Tumor

Description The following case study demonstrates a 26-year-old male that presented to the dermatology clinic with an enlarging, raised skin nodule located on the left inferior lateral lower back. The patient reported it had persisted for two years, and he had not received prior treatment. He noted a family history of nonmelanoma skin cancer but had no other dermatological issues in the past. Physical examination revealed a pink, firm and well-circumscribed subcutaneous mass with a prominent follicular pore. It was assumed the lesion was an epidermal inclusion cyst, and surgical excision was performed. Histopathology revealed lobules of epithelioid cells with indistinct cytoplasm in a fibromyxoid hyalinized matrix surrounded by lamellar bone and a collagenous pseudocapsule. Immunohistochemical staining showed moderate desmin immunoreactivity and negative immunoreactivity for CD34, S-100, EMA, actin and pancytokeratin. Based on the findings, a diagnosis of ossifying fibromyxoid tumor was made. Given the uncertain biological potential of this lesion, re-excision was performed. No residual tumor was identified on repeat pathological evaluation. The patient was scheduled for close follow-up to survey for recurrence or possible metastasis.

Evaluation of Tumor Tissue Fixation Effects of Formulation Modified Mohs Pastes in Mice and Their Water-Absorbing Properties

Mohs paste (MP) is a hospital preparation containing zinc hydrochloride and zinc oxide starch. It is a topical medication used to fixate tissues for the removal of inoperable skin tumors and the management of hemorrhage and exudates, and to prevent foul odor resulting from secondary infections. However, it has problems, such as changes in hardness and viscoelasticity with time and liquefaction by exudate. It has been reported that the modified MP with D-sorbitol (S-MP) and the modified MP using the cellulose instead of starch (C-MP) have excellent physicochemical stability and better handling than original MP (O-MP). In this study, the effect of prescription improvement of MP on the pharmacological effect was examined with reference to water absorbing property, and its tumor tissue invasion fixation depth as an indicator. In the S-MP and C-MP, the amounts of water absorption did not differ significantly from those in the O-MP. The hardness of S-MP was decreased and liquefied like O-MP after absorbing water. In contrast, C-MP retained its form even after water absorption. The subcutaneous tumors in mice treated with modified MP formulations were measured for invasion fixation depth at 6 and 24 h after application. And the tissue status was observed using computed tomography. In all MPs, invasion fixation depth increased depending on application time. S-MP and O-MP depths did not differ significantly. The invasion depths of the C-MP significantly increased compared with those in the O-MP. These results suggest that C-MP had a high tissue fixation rate.

Subcutaneous metastasis--the first sign of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic virus C hepatitis patient--Case report

Hepatocellular carcinomas make up 90% of primary liver cancers. The association between the hepatic carcinoma and virus B and C infection has been already proven. Hepatocellular carcinoma develops, in most cases, on a background of cirrhosis and rarely in hepatitis. The case we have chosen to report distinguishes itself due to the unusual extra-hepatic metastatic location of a hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with Chronic HCV hepatitis.