A comparative study of four methods for establishing animal models of human breast cancer bone metastasis / 肿瘤研究与临床

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate four methods for establishing animal models of human breast cancer bone metastasis. Methods Thirty-two female nude mice aged 4-6 weeks were divided randomly into four groups (n=8 in each group). 5×105 MDA-MB-231 cells were injected into the body via the left second mammary fat pads (group A), the tail veins (group B), the left heart ventricles (group C) and the left tibia marrow cavities (group D), respectively. Tumor formations in situ were recorded in group A. Deaths after the injection were recorded. The surviving nude mice 49 days after the injection were subjected to pathological examination to determine bone metastasis. Results The rate of tumor formation in situ of group A was87.5 %(7/8). One mouse in group C died after the injection of MDA-MB-231 cells. The bone metastasis rate in groups A, B, C and D was zero (0/8), 12.5 % (1/8), 71.4 % (5/7) and 100 % (8/8), respectively. There was statistically significant difference in the bone metastasis rate between group A and group C, group A and group D, group B and group C; and group B and group D. Conclusion Injections of tumor cells via the breast fat pads and tail veins were not suitablemethods to establish animal models of human breast cancer bone metastasis. The bone metastasis model could be established efficiently by injecting tumor cells into the left heart ventricles or the bone marrow cavity of nude mice.