BM18: A novel androgen-dependent human prostate cancer xenograft model derived from a bone metastasis.
BACKGROUND
Androgen-dependent prostate cancer (PrCa) xenograft models are required to study PrCa biology in the clinically relevant in vivo environment.


METHODS
Human PrCa tissue from a femoral bone metastasis biopsy (BM18) was grown and passaged subcutaneously through male severe combined immune-deficient (SCID) mice. Human mitochondria (hMt), prostate specific antigen (PSA), androgen receptor (AR), cytokeratin-18 (CK-18), pan-cytokeratin, and high molecular weight-cytokeratin (HMW-CK) were assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Surgical castration was performed to examine androgen dependence. Serum was collected pre- and post-castration for monitoring of PSA levels.


RESULTS
BM18 stained positively for hMt, PSA, AR, CK-18, pan keratin, and negatively for HMW-CK, consistent with the staining observed in the original patient material. Androgen-deprivation induced tumor regression in 10/10 castrated male SCID mice. Serum PSA levels positively correlated with BM18 tumor size.


CONCLUSIONS
BM18 expresses PSA and AR, and rapidly regresses in response to androgen withdrawal. This provides a new clinically significant PrCa model for the study of androgen-dependent growth.
McCulloch
Daniel R
DR
Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Australia.
Opeskin
Kenneth
K
Thompson
Erik W
EW
Williams
Elizabeth D
ED
D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000032:analysis; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
D000728:Androgens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D007633:Keratins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen