title: B-scan ultrasonographic monitoring of orthotopic xenografted plexiform neurofibroma in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Xenografted benign tumours in immunodeficient mice provide an in vivo model to study tumour biology and the effect of agents on tumour growth. Conventionally, these small grafts can only be monitored upon sacrificing the animals. We evaluated ultrasound biomicroscopy for monitoring such grafts in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Small fragments (<10 mm(3)) of a plexiform neurofibroma obtained from patients with established diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1) were orthotopically-xenografted onto the sciatic nerve of immunodeficient mice and monitored using a high-resolution in vivo micro-imaging system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Grafts were identified in most cases and were distinguished from the surrounding inflammatory host tissues by detailed ultrasonographic signals. Graft sizes could be calculated precisely from serial scan sections and monitored during the whole course of drug treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High frequency sonographic measurement is a superior non-invasive method for monitoring small grafts of slowly growing benign tumours in mice in vivo, e.g. plexiform neurofibroma, and is especially suitable for tracing the effects of drugs at multiple time-points, thus allowing a very cost-effective follow-up.
authors.affiliation: DMD, Building O-10, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. r.friedrich@uke.de.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gleiss
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demestre
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spyra
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eschenhagen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hagel
authors.forename: Victor-F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Mautner
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kluwe
authors.forename: Reinhard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Friedrich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016513:Mice, SCID; D018318:Neurofibroma, Plexiform / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D014463:Ultrasonography; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate
keywords: High frequency ultrasound; benign tumour; in vivo; mice; plexiform neurofibroma; xenograft