Experimental murine model of renal cancer

Abstract Introduction The objective of this study was to determine the reproducibility in a murine model of renal tumors of various histological strains that could be useful for investigating the response to target drugs. Material and methods Development and analysis of the “in vivo” model: tumor xenograft of renal cell carcinomas with Balb/c nude athymic mice. Nontumourous human renal tissue was implanted in the interscapular region of 5 mice, chromophobe renal cell carcinoma was implanted in 5 mice (which, after checking its growth, was prepared for implantation in another 10 mice) and Fuhrman grade 2 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) was implanted in 5 mice (which was also subsequently implanted in 10 mice). We monitored the tumor size, onset of metastases and increase in size and number of tumors. When the size had reached a point greater than or equal to locally advanced or metastatic carcinoma, the animals were euthanised for a pathological and immunohistochemical study and a second phase of implantation. Results The subcutaneous xenograft of the healthy tissue did not grow. The animals were euthanised at 6 months and no renal tissue was found. The chromophobe renal cell carcinoma cells grew in the initial phase (100%); however, in the second phase, we observed a chronic lymphomonocyte inflammatory reaction and a foreign body reaction. The CCRCC grew at 5–8 months both in the first and second phase (100%), maintaining the tumor type and grade. Conclusions The model with athymic Balb/c nude mice is useful for reproducing CCRCC, with the same histological characteristics and aggressiveness as native human tumors, promoting the development of the second experimental phase.