A novel mouse model of metastatic thyroid carcinoma using human adipose tissue-derived stromal/stem cells

Anticancer Res. 2013 Oct;33(10):4213-7.

Abstract

Background/aim: Scientists have been in quest for the best in vivo model to evaluate chemotherapies for radioiodine-resistant metastatic thyroid carcinomas. Human adipose tissue-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) have been found to promote in vitro growth and in vivo tumorigenesis. In the present study, we describe a novel model of metastatic human thyroid carcinoma by combining ASCs with the papillary thyroid cancer, K1 cell line.

Materials and methods: Three groups of severe combined immunodefecient mice were investigated. The first group was injected subcutaneously with K1 cells plus ASCs, the second group with K1 cell only, and the last group with ASCs only. Mean tumor volumes and standard deviations were calculated and compared.

Results: Concomitant injection of ASCs with the K1 cell line led to the development of significantly larger tumors compared to the other groups (p<0.05). In addition, the lungs of this group demonstrated gross tumor metastasis and pathological features of high-grade neoplasms.

Conclusion: In the present study we describe a novel mouse model using ASCs with the potential to be used for assessment of new treatments for the management of metastatic thyroid carcinomas.

Keywords: Thyroid cancer; adipose tissue; mouse model; stem cells; xenografts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / pathology
  • Adult Stem Cells / transplantation
  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / secondary*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasm Micrometastasis
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Tumor Burden