Co-implantation of Tumor and Extensive Surrounding Tissue Improved the Establishment Rate of Surgical Specimens of Human-Patient Cancer in Nude Mice: Toward the Goal of Universal Individualized Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Background/aim: The discovery of the nude mouse model enabled the experimental growth of human-patient tumors. However, the low establishment rate of tumors in nude and other immunodeficient strains of mice has limited wide-spread clinical use.

Materials and methods: In order to increase the establishment rate of surgical specimens of patient tumors, we transplanted tumors to nude mice subcutaneously along with large amounts of surrounding tissue of the tumor.

Results: The new transplantation method increased the establishment rate in nude mice to 66% compared to the old method of implanting the surgical tumor specimen with surrounding tissue removed (14%). High stage and presence of metastasis in the patient donor are positively correlated to tumor engraftment in nude mice.

Conclusion: The new method can potentially allow most cancer patients who undergo surgery or biopsy to have their own mouse model for drug-sensitivity testing.

Keywords: PDX; Patient-derived xenograft; breast cancer; co-implantation; gynecological cancer; individualized medicine; nude mice; patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX); surrounding tissue; take rate; tumor implantation.