Establishment of a murine model of bone invasion by oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral Oncol. 2007 Mar;43(3):257-62. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2006.03.015. Epub 2006 Aug 22.

Abstract

This study examines the establishment an animal model of bone invasion by oral squamous cell carcinoma to clarify the mechanisms of osteoclast-mediated bone invasion. C(3)H/HeN mice were inoculated with SCCVII cells into the masseter region. At the end of week 3, all surviving mice were sacrificed and analyzed by three-dimensional imaging using micro-computed tomography, histopathological observation using Hematoxylin-Eosin staining and Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase staining, and confirmation of mRNA expression of the osteoclast-related cytokines IL-6, TNF-alpha, and PTHrP. SCCVII cells rapidly multiplied in the masseter muscle of the mice. Bone invasion was evident only in the SCCVII transplanted group on micro-computed tomography. The histopathologic findings obtained with H-E and TRAP staining indicated that the tumor cells in the mandible of all animals of the SCCVII transplanted group exhibited funicular invasion and presented a serrated pattern of bone resorption. The mRNA expression of IL-6, PTHrP, and TNF-alpha increased as the control decreased. SCCVII cells were highly invasive into mandibular bone in C(3)H/HeN mice. This model was similar to the invasion of human oral cancer into maxillary and mandibular bone. Our mandibular invasion model may provide a powerful new modality for the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer with bone invasion.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Resorption / pathology
  • Bone Resorption / physiopathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / physiopathology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Jaw / pathology*
  • Jaw / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Mandible / pathology
  • Mandible / physiopathology
  • Maxilla / pathology
  • Maxilla / physiopathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mouth Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Mouth Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Osteoclasts / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • RNA, Messenger