Endocrine therapy of human breast cancer grown in nude mice

Abstract

Although there have been extensive studies of rodent breast tumor models, and of human breast cancer cell lines in culture, there is still need for a human tumor model which can be manipulated experimentally but also provides a valid expression of the tumor cells in a host environment. Athymic nude mice bearing transplanted human breast tumors have been proposed as such a model. This review therefore discusses the use of the athymic nude mouse model of the study of human breast cancer biology, and focuses on four subjects: 1. biological characteristics of heterotransplanted breast tumors; 2. endocrinology and pharmacology of hormonal agents in the nude mouse; 3. endocrine sensitivity of heterotransplanted tumors; and 4. applicability and limitations of this model for the study of human breast cancer.

The nude mouse as anin vivo model for human breast cancer invasion and metastasis

“…Independently of the site of transplantation, human breast cancer xenografts maintain many of their characteristics following establishment in the nude mouse (for review see [2]). …”

“…Thus, spreading of cancer cells appears to be the result of a concerted action involving both cancer cells and various types of non-malignant stromal cells. As a consequence, host factors may also play an important role in determining the invasive and metastatic capability of a given Despite the fact that most xenotransplanted human breast carcinomas have been established from metastatic foci in patients [2], only a limited number of human breast cancer xenografts have been reported to be reproducibly invasive and to form distant metastases when inoculated subcutaneously into nude mice. Hence, the nude mouse has only had limited use as a model for the study of the invasive and metastatic aspects of human breast cancer cells.…”

“…Since its appearance in 1969 [1], the nude mouse has been increasingly used in cancer research. Due to a genetically determined thymus aplasia, this animal accepts heterologous tissue including human breast cancer [2].…”

Studies of human breast cancer metastasis using nude mice

“…Serum levels of estradiol (E2) in female nude mice are considerably lower than those of premenopausal women [45], and rapid growth of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast carcinoma cell lines occurs only in mice that have received supplemental estradiol, often in the form of slow-release pellets implanted s.c. [46,47]. Research on the effectiveness of antiestrogens [48].…”

Growth kinetics of four human breast carcinomas grown in nude mice

“…For these purposes the immune deficient animals with xenografted human tumors seem appropriate models [6,7]. Many basic tumor characteristics are preserved in breast cancer xenografts and all types of clinically relevant (non-surgical) antineoplastic treatment can be applied in this model [8], indicating that the results obtained may pertain to patient tumors in situ.…”