Using human CD20-transfected murine lymphomatous B cells to evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal and intracerebral rituximab injections in mice.
OBJECTIVE
The treatment of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and its subset, primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL), remains of limited efficiency, and salvage therapies are often used without prior testing in adequate animal models. Most PNCSL/PIOL are aggressive B-cell malignancies. Two animal models that closely mimic the human situation were established to evaluate the efficiency of intravitreal and intracerebral anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) injections.


METHODS
Human CD20-transfected murine B-lymphoma cells (38C13 CD20(+)) were inoculated in the vitreous through the pars plana or in the caudate nucleus with the use of a stereotaxic frame in immunocompetent syngeneic mice. Animals were monitored clinically and by funduscopic and histologic examination. Rituximab was injected intravitreally or intracerebrally. Occurrences of exophthalmia, neurologic disturbance, and weight loss were monitored over 2 months.


RESULTS
Inoculation of 38C13 CD20(+) cells in the eye or the brain resulted in tumor occurrence after a median of 15 days or 22 days, respectively, with histologic characteristics closely resembling those of PIOL and PCNSL. Local rituximab injections eradicated tumor colonization in more than half the graft recipients and inhibited tumor progression significantly in the others compared with progression in mice that underwent grafting with the control 38C13 cell line (no human CD20 expression) and in mice that underwent grafting with 38C13 CD20(+) cells that received local injections of an irrelevant antibody (trastuzumab).


CONCLUSIONS
Inoculation of native or human CD20-transfected murine 38C13 cells in the vitreous or the brain of immunocompetent mice provides useful novel models for evaluating the biology and treatment of PIOL and PCNSL. Intravitreal and intracerebral rituximab injections reduced tumor occurrence and growth in each model.
Mineo
Jean-François
JF
Department of Immunology, .University of Lille-2 and University Hospital Center, Lille, France. j-mineo@chru-lille.fr.
Scheffer
Aymeric
A
Karkoutly
Céline
C
Nouvel
Lisa
L
Kerdraon
Olivier
O
Trauet
Jacques
J
Bordron
Anne
A
Dessaint
Jean-Paul
JP
Labalette
Myriam
M
Berthou
Christian
C
Labalette
Pierre
P
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D054022:Cerebrum; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007267:Injections; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014822:Vitreous Body
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab