A CHICK-EMBRYO MODEL FOR METASTATIC HUMAN PROSTATE-CANCER

Objective: To establish a suitable experimental model of bone and live r micrometastases from human prostate cancer for evaluating antitumor agents. Methods: PC-3 cells, an androgen-independent prostate cancer c ell line, were inoculated into the chorioallantoic membrane vein of 10 -day-old chick embryos (10(6) cells/egg), The polymerase chain reactio n product fur the human beta-globin gene in chick embryo femur and liv er was quantified at various time points after inoculation, when immun ohistochemical staining was done for Ki-67 antigen and cytokeratin. Th e antitumor effect of suramin was evaluated using the model, as was re gional blood flow after thallium injection. Results: Micrometastases w ere identified in bone and liver 1 day after inoculation and grew to f orm established metastatic foci in all embryos. Suramin showed signifi cant antitumor effect for liver metastases, but not for those in bone where blood flow was relatively low. Conclusion: The chick embryo syst em provides a highly reproducible model for bone and liver micrometast ases from human prostate cancer: suitable for evaluating antineoplasti c agents at an early stage of the metastatic process.