B16LS9 melanoma cells spread to the liver from the murine ocular posteriorcompartment (PC)

Purpose. To create a murine ocular melanoma model that consistently metasta sizes to the liver. Methods. Twelve-week-old C57BL6 mice (n=10) were inoculated in the posterio r compartment (PC) of one eye with 5 x 10(5) tissue culture B16LS9 melanoma cells. The inoculated eyes were enucleated at two weeks and the mice were sacrificed with necropsies performed at four weeks post-inoculation. Results. Melanoma grew and was confined to the eyes of all 10 mice. The mel anoma hematogenously spread to the lungs in 9 of 10 mice and the liver in 8 of 10 mice. There was a positive correlation between pulmonary and liver m etastasis (r = 0.94). Conclusions. B16LS9 melanoma cells consistently hematogenously spread to th e liver when implanted into C57BL6 mice eyes. The value of this model is un known at this time since it is not known if the intrahepatic melanoma is ca pable of growing and killing the host.