A METASTATIC NEUROBLASTOMA MODEL IN SCID MICE

Neuroblastoma (NB), a neural crest derived tumor in children, shows a characteristic pattern of dissemination that includes adrenal glands, local lymph nodes, bone, liver, skin, and bone marrow. We have reconst ructed a similar metastatic pattern in SCID mice following tail vein i njection of human NE cells. HTLA230, an NE cell line isolated from a p atient with advanced disease, and its NGF receptor (trkA) expressing d erivative (18-10) cells, consistently disseminated to the liver, the a drenal gland, and the bone marrow, but not the lungs. Metastases in th e different organs showed a characteristic hemorrhagic histopathology, and tumors in the bone marrow presented as syncytia-like cell aggrega tes, typically seen in patients. Cell lines reestablished from 18-10 d erived liver and bone marrow metastases maintained their cellular morp hology, growth behavior, N-myc overexpression, trkA expression, and fu nctionally responded to NGF treatment, leading to growth arrest and ne urite outgrowth. Hence, circulating human NE cells in SCID mice show a similar organ-specific metastatic potential as seen in patients, inde pendent of trkA expression. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.