ORTHOTOPIC GROWTH AND METASTASIS OF HUMAN NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CARCINOMA CELLS INJECTED INTO THE PLEURAL CAVITY OF NUDE-MICE

We have constructed a metastatic model of human non-small cell lung ca ncer (NSCLC) by injection of NSCLC cell lines directly into the left p leural cavity of BALB/c nude mice. All of seven NSCLC cell Lines, whic h are tumorigenic after subcutaneous injection, were successfully tran splanted in the pleural cavity, while only three of the seven cell lin es produced lung metastatic colonies after intravenous injection. Tumo rs grew extensively in the pleural cavity and infiltrated into the lun g parenchyma directly. Furthermore, tumors metastasized to the mediast inum and contralateral pleural cavity through lymphatic routes. Since this model is easy to perform and the result is reproducible, it would be useful for studies on the biological behavior and treatment of hum an NSCLC in vivo. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.