title: A true orthotopic gastric cancer murine model using electrocoagulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orthotopic mouse models of human gastric cancer represent an important in vivo tool for testing chemotherapeutic agents and for studying intraluminal factors. Currently, orthotopic mouse models of gastric cancer require an operative procedure involving either injection or implantation of tumor cells in stomach layers. The resultant tumor does not grow from the stomach's mucosal surface, so it does not mimic the human disease process.
  
  
  METHODS
  A low-dose gastric mucosal coagulation was done transorally in the body of stomach using a specially designed polyethylene catheter in 16 female severe combined immunodeficient mice. This was followed by the instillation of SNU-16 human gastric cancer tumor cells (1 × 10(6) cells). Five mice each were euthanized at 1 and 2 months, and 6 mice were euthanized at 3 months. Three control mice underwent electrocoagulation alone and 3 mice underwent cell line instillation alone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumors were detected in 11 of 16 experimental mice, but not in the control mice. Tumors were noted in mice at 1 month. Over time, there was an increase in tumor growth and metastasis to lymph nodes and surrounding organs. Histopathologic evaluation showed that the tumors grew from the gastric mucosa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our model is easy to create and overcomes the limitations of the existing models, as the tumor arises from the stomach's mucosal layer and mimics the human disease in terms of morphology and biologic behavior. This is the first report of a true orthotopic gastric cancer murine model. This model opens new doors for additional studies that were not possible earlier.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Providence Hospital and Medical Centers, Southfield, MI 48075, USA. drjsbhullar@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jasneet Singh
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bhullar
authors.forename: Tafadzwa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makarawo
authors.forename: Gokulakkrishna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Subhas
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alomari
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Silberberg
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tilak
authors.forename: Milessa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Vijay K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Mittal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*