title: A novel mouse model of isolated limb perfusion for extremity melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) for extremity melanoma has been used clinically for over half a century. Mouse modeling of ILP may offer significant experimental advantages compared with existing models. We propose a novel mouse model and report our initial experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  We injected female C57BL/6 mice (22-25 g) with 1 × 10(6) B16 melanoma cells subcutaneously in the distal right thigh. After 7 d of tumor establishment, we cannulated the superficial femoral artery (inflow) and vein (outflow) of anesthetized mice and placed a proximal tourniquet. Non-oxygenated perfusate included low-dose or high-dose melphalan and saline (control). We analyzed endpoints of cannulation time, procedural complications, morbidity, toxicity, and tumor response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed 11 superficial femoral vessel cannulations. Median cannulation time was 19 min (range, 15-32 min). Intact perfusion models were obtained in 10 of 11 cases (91%); one case failed owing to superficial femoral vein dissection. Morbidity rate was 20% (one wound dehiscence and one hematoma). Both high- and low-dose melphalan perfusion groups (4 mice/group) trended to growth delay and regression compared with saline-perfused groups. Toxicity was greater in the high-dose melphalan-treated mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have established the first reproducible mouse model of ILP for melanoma. Future experiments will take advantage of the large number of established mouse knockout models and reagents to dissect the precise mechanisms of tumor control after ILP, and examine to novel agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA.
authors.forename: Minhyung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camoriano
authors.forename: Jason B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Muhitch
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Skitzki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply; D008545:Melanoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008558:Melphalan / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009017:Morbidity; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D014111:Tourniquets
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D008558:Melphalan