Induction of syngeneic intradermal and orthotopic epidermal carcinomas in hairless Skh-1 mice as a reproducible model for experiments.

ABSTRACT

Epidermoid carcinomas, clinically and histologically similar to human squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), were obtained in hairless Skh-1 mice. Tumor cells originated from chemically-induced skin cancers. We developed three models of orthotopic skin tumors (1) intradermal injection of a tumor cell suspension, (2) superficial abrasion of the skin, cell grafting and application of a hydrocolloid dressing, (3) skin incision, seeding and application of a hydrocolloid dressing. Intradermal injection was 100% successful. Skin incision, displaying histological evidence of rapid invasive tumor growth, was 75% successful. Though skin tumor growth after abrasion was only 20% successful, the tumor histogenesis exactly imitated human SCC development. These carcinomas provide research models for further experiments such as photodynamic therapy or antiangiogenesis therapy.