Premium
Xenotransplantation of alpha‐fetoprotein‐producing gastric cancers into nude mice. Characteristics and responses to chemotherapy
Author(s) -
Chang YuChung,
Nagasue Naofumi,
Kohno Hitoshi,
Ohiwa Kanji,
Yamanoi Akira,
Nakamura Teruhisa
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19920215)69:4<872::aid-cncr2820690406>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - medicine , epirubicin , cisplatin , transplantation , chemotherapy , xenotransplantation , pathology , cancer , doxorubicin , alpha fetoprotein , metastasis , titer , cancer research , cyclophosphamide , immunology , hepatocellular carcinoma , antibody
Three human alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP)‐producing gastric cancers (AFPGC) were xenotransplanted into the lateral abdominal wall of nude mice. Two tumors were established and passed over ten generations. These tumors retained their ability to secrete AFP and their characteristic hepatoid features microscopically. Serum levels of AFP in the mice were elevated as the tumors grew. Through serial transplantation, the degree of differentiation was not altered. Neither local invasion nor distant metastasis were encountered during the observation periods. Both strains had an aneuploid pattern of DNA by flow cytometric examinations. The responses of these tumors to five chemotherapeutic agents were investigated using various doses. The high AFP‐titer strain (AFPGC‐2) showed a marked regression or suppression of tumor growth after administration of both mitomycin C (MMC) and cisplatin (CDDP). The low‐titer strain (AFPGC‐1) had substantial sensitivity only to MMC. The growth of both tumors was not suppressed by 5‐fluorouracil, doxorubicin, or epirubicin. These findings suggest that the characteristics of AFPGC are preserved in the xenograft model of nude mice. In addition, MMC and CDDP may be active to some extent against this rare, but highly malignant cancer. Cancer 1992; 69:872–877.