HeLa cell line xenograft tumor as a suitable cervical cancer model: growth kinetic characterization and immunohistochemistry array.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the seventh most common malignancy in both genders combined and the third most common cancer in women. Despite significant progress in treatments, cervical cancer is not completely curable. Therefore, further research is necessary in this area. Animal models are one of the most practical tools in the field of cancer research. The present study aimed to characterize the growth behavior and surface markers of HeLa cells after heterotopic and systemic inoculation to athymic nude mice. METHODS: Ten 6-week old female athymic C57BL/6 nude mice were used in this study. HeLa cells were inoculated into the flank or tail vein. The tumor volume was calculated and growth curves were drawn. Tumor-bearing mice were sacrificed and the lesions obtained after harvesting were analyzed in a pathology lab. Subsequently, one slide per tumor was stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and other slides were stained immunohistochemically by cytokeratins (CK), vimentin, P53, CD34, and Ki-67. RESULTS: Tumor take rate, mean doubling time and latency period were 94.4%, 5.29 ± 3.57 days and 15.27 days, respectively. H&E results revealed highly malignant hyperchromatin epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical examination of the heterotopic tumors indicated greater expression of CK and less expression of vimentin compared to the metastatic ones. Sixty percent of cells were P53-positive and more than 80% were Ki-67-positive. CD34 expression indicated the intensity of angiogenesis in tumor. CONCLUSION: This study represents a comprehensive description of a HeLa xenograft model for in vivo investigations, enabling researchers to assess new treatments for cervical cancer.

Feasibility assessment of in vitro chemoresponse assay on stereotactic biopsies of glioblastoma multiforms: a step towards personalized medicine.

OBJECTIVES: P In vitro chemosensitivity and resistance assays (CSRAs) are a promising tool for personalized treatment of glioblastoma multiform (GBM). These assays require a minimum of 1 to 2 g of tumor specimen for testing, but this amount is not always accessible. We aimed to assess the feasibility and validity of utilizing stereotactic biopsies of GBM in CSRAs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single cell suspension was prepared from 1 g weight explants of the established xenograft tumor of GBM. Also, primary culture was carried out on 35 mg weight specimens, as a surrogate for stereotactic biopsies. Then, chemoresponse profile of cells obtained by direct cell disaggregation and primary culture was determined using temozolomide and carmustine by clonogenic assay. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the cytotoxicity of temozolomide and carmustine between cells obtained from both methods. CONCLUSION: This work supports the feasibility of using stereotactic biopsies of GBM in CSRAs.