title: Xenograft transplantation of human malignant astrocytoma cells into immunodeficient rats: an experimental model of glioblastoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo/SP, Brazil. fkmiura@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Flávio Key
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Maria Jose Ferreira
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Mussya Cisotto
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Roseli
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Sueli Mieko
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Oba-Shinjo
authors.forename: Suely Kazue Nagahashi
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Marie
mesh_terms: 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