MATRIGEL AUGMENTS XENOGRAFT TRANSPLANTATION OF MENINGIOMA CELLS INTO ATHYMIC MICE

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the use of Matrigel to enhance the growth o f human meningiomas in athymic (nude) mice. Tumor take and growth of x enograft meningioma sells in an in vivo model grave previously been on ly partially successful.METHODS: The use of Matrigel has been reported to enhance tumorigenicity in a variety of solid tumors. This substanc e is derived from a mouse sarcoma and is a mixture of basement membran e proteins and growth factors. Meningioma cells obtained from human pa tients were placed in culture for 1 to 2 passages and then harvested a nd mixed with Matrigel and the mixture injected into the subcutaneous space in the flank of nude mice, Tumor volumes over time were measured at least three times a week and then harvested at 100 days postimplan tation. Tumors were formalin-fixed, and histological examinations were performed. Immunohistochemistry was performed for human and mouse lam inin, fibronectin, collagen Type IV, and epithelial membrane antigen. RESULTS: Tumors developed in all 40 mice studied. Growth of meningioma tumors was dependent on total number of cells injected and independen t of the fetal volume of tumor cells and Matrigel matrix. Histological ly and immunohistochemically, the xenograft tumors were very similar; to the original human tumors. CONCLUSION: Matrigel is relatively easy to use and has a high rate of histologically confirmed meningioma tumo r formation in an athymic mouse model. We plan to use this model for s tudying the growth of meningiomas in vivo.