Human medullary thyroid carcinoma: cell cultures and xenotransplants in nude mice. Immunocytochemistry and calcitonin secretion.
Occult primary and recurrent medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC) detected only by elevated calcitonin levels in the peripheral blood, generally after pentagastrin-test stimulation, are difficult to localize. Some new imaging procedures with radionuclide tracers or radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen seem to bring some potentially therapeutic benefits. We report our results with cell cultures and xenotransplants of human MTC with the intention of establishing reproducible models in vitro and in vivo. Cell cultures secrete calcitonin at up to 1200 pg/ml for periods ranging from 3 to 13 weeks. Immunocytochemistry detects cytoplasmic granules positive for calcitonin in polygonal epithelioid cells with dendritic processes. Xenotransplants in nude mice fare better in the subcutaneous axilla than in the subrenal capsule assay. In the former location the tumor-take is good and calcitonin is detected in the blood of the tumor-bearing animals, at levels ranging from 286 to more than 20,000 pg/ml. These models would be potentially usable as targets for radionuclide tracers and/or radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies.
Andry
G
G
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, H. Tagnon Clinic and Experimental Chemotherapy and Screening, Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium.
Lothaire
P
P
Vico
P
P
Dumont
P
P
Libert
A
A
Degeyter
M
M
Larsimont
D
D
Saigo
P E
PE
Body
J J
JJ
Atassi
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D013370:Subrenal Capsule Assay; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D002116:Calcitonin