A simple, reproducible technique for establishing leptomeningeal tumors innude rats

The incidence of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is on the rise and current t reatment modalities have limited efficacy. The development of new treatment strategies has been hampered by the lack of an appropriate animal model th at accurately parallels the clinical condition. We have developed a new sur gical technique for the establishment of leptomeningeal tumors in rats. Our technique is simple, reproducible and associated with low morbidity and mo rtality. Tumor implantation resulted in a defined neurological endpoint and a reproducible time course of disease progression using both human medullo blastoma and breast carcinoma cell lines. This animal model provides an app ropriate system for testing conventional and new biologic therapies in both early and late stages of leptomeningeal disease. (C) 1998 Published by Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.