Quantification of liver metastases from LS174T human colorectal cancer cells in nude rats by PCR
Stein, T.N.; Berger, M.R.
Anticancer Research 19(5b): 3939-3945
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 10628335 Document Number: 503795
Liver metastasis of colorectal cancer is a challenging problem and associated with poor prognosis. Appropriate experimental models based for example on xenografts of human colorectal cancer (HCRC) cells may help to find new therapeutic options. To establish an orthotopic liver metastasis model, 9 HCRC cell lines (HDC8, HDC63, HDC101, Isreco-1, Isreco-2, Isreco-3, SW480, SW620, LS174T) were tested for their appropriateness after subcutaneous (s.c.), intrasplenic, intrahepatic and intraportal injection into rnu-rats. The growth curve of the most appropriate cell line (LS174T) was established in a subsequent experiment. For early tumor detection, a quantitative nested PCR-assay using an internal standard was developed. The detection limit of the assay was 10 HCRC cells/mg liver tissue, which was 100-1000 fold more sensitive than histological examination. LS174T cells showed an exponential, but somewhat irregular growth in the liver of nude rats within the observation period of 6 weeks. The model will be useful for future therapeutic studies.