A cervical lymph node metastatic model of human tongue carcinoma: Serial and orthotopic transplantation of histologically intact patient specimens in nude mice.
OBJECTIVE
A lymph node metastatic model of human tongue carcinoma using orthotopic and serial transplantation was established in nude mice to study the invasive and metastatic properties of human tongue cancer.


METHODS
Lymph node metastatic specimens of human tongue carcinoma were transplanted into nude mice orthotopically. Tumors dissected from the metastatic lymph nodes of the nude mice were serially transplanted into tongues of disease-free nude mice at 4-week intervals.


RESULTS
All mice developed aggressive and diffuse well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma at tongue recipient sites. Tumor cells invaded to lymphatic vessels. In addition, increased cervical lymph node metastasis was noted in the first (3 of 14, or 21%), second (4 of 11, or 36%), third (6 of 10, or 60%), or fourth (11 of 14, or 79%) transplantation. In mice, 2 of 14 lung metastases were found in the fourth round of transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
After surgical specimens of the lymph node metastasis for human tongue cancer were transplanted into the tongue of nude mice, the clinical characteristics of human tongue carcinoma, especially invasion and metastasis, were observed. This metastatic model involving orthotopic and serial transplantation should be useful for studies on the mechanisms, treatment, and prevention of human carcinoma of tongue.
Qiu
Cunping
C
Visiting Fellow, Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. cunping_qui@nih.gov
Wu
Hong
H
He
Huajun
H
Qiu
Weiliu
W
D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*