[Establishment and characterization of three transplantable tumors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Scid mice].
BACKGROUND
To establish several transplantable tumors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in order to provide suitable models for study of EBV specific immunity and its application in treatment of NPC.


METHODS
Balb/C nude mice and scid mice were used as transplantation host. Tumor tissues were obtained with forceps from nasopharyngeal tumors of twenty six untreated NPC patients and transplanted subcutaneously in axilla or back of mice with puncture trocar. Characteristics of the established transplantable tumors including the transplanting efficiency, growth rate, gross appearance morphology under optic microscope and electron microscope and karyotypes chromosome were investigated. Detection of LMP-1 as well as LMP-2 were performed for the transplantable tumors and cell lines with immunohistochemical methods.


RESULTS
Three transplantable tumors were successfully established from 26 specimens of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma and mamed as CSNET-1, CSNET-2 and CSNET-3. The CSNET-1 was primarily generated in nude mice and then transplanted to scid mice after 3 passages. To date the CSNET-1, CSNET-2, CSNET-3 have been passed to 11th generation (23 months), 14th generation (17 months) and 9th generation (16 months), respectively. The overall success rates of transplantation were 91% (39/43), 97% (29/30) and 94% (34/36); The median time of latent growth were 23, 38 and 20 days;and longest persistence of tumor in vivo were 93, 38 and 44 days, respectively, for the above tumors. The karyotypes of all transplantable tumors displayed as typical human origin with hyperdiploid chromosomal and multiple structure aberration. Histologically, the tumors possess the characteristics of poor differentiated squamous carcinoma under either microscope or electron microscope. Some particles minimizing mature EBV were found in CSNET-1 under electron microscope. Either LMP-1 or LMP-2 were detectable in CSNET-1, CSNET-2, and CSNET-3 by immunohistochemical test.


CONCLUSIONS
The transplantable tumors CSNET-1, CSNET-2 and CSNET-3 are of human origin and able to pass steadily in scid mice. They possess the characteristics of poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma similar to their prime tumors in human and express EBV LMP-1 and LMP-2. These tumors seemed to be suitable models in the study of immunotherapy for NPC.
Chen
Z
Z
Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, China.
Li
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D
Zhou
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D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation