Xenograft transplantation of human malignant astrocytoma cells into immunodeficient rats: an experimental model of glioblastoma.
BACKGROUND
Astrocytic gliomas are the most common intracranial central nervous system neoplasias, accounting for about 60% of all primary central nervous system tumors. Despite advances in the treatment of gliomas, no effective therapeutic approach is yet available; hence, the search for a more realistic model to generate more effective therapies is essential.


OBJECTIVE
To develop an experimental malignant astrocytoma model with the characteristics of the human tumor.


METHODS
Primary cells from subcutaneous xenograft tumors produced with malignant astrocytoma U87MG cells were inoculated intracerebrally by stereotaxis into immunosuppressed (athymic) Rowett rats.


RESULTS
All four injected animals developed non-infiltrative tumors, although other glioblastoma characteristics, such as necrosis, pseudopalisading cells and intense mitotic activity, were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
A malignant astrocytoma intracerebral xenograft model with poorly invasive behavior was achieved in athymic Rowett rats. Tumor invasiveness in an experimental animal model may depend on a combination of several factors, including the cell line used to induce tumor formation, the rat strains and the status of the animal's immune system.
Miura
Flávio Key
FK
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo/SP, Brazil. fkmiura@hotmail.com
Alves
Maria Jose Ferreira
MJ
Rocha
Mussya Cisotto
MC
da Silva
Roseli
R
Oba-Shinjo
Sueli Mieko
SM
Marie
Suely Kazue Nagahashi
SK
D000818:Animals; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D051381:Rats; D011923:Rats, Nude; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous