Establishment of IPC 227 cells as human xenografts in rabbits: a model of uveal melanoma

This study was designed in order to evaluate the feasibility of establishin g an animal model of human uveal melanoma. IPC227, a cell line established from the biopsy of a patient with a spindle cell ciliary body melanoma, was transplanted into the anterior chamber of the eye in immunosuppressed New Zealand rabbits. In a second step, a tumour fragment from the anterior cham ber was implanted transclerally into the posterior choroid, Complete ophtha lmological examinations were then performed on the animals. Characteristic growth patterns were noted depending on the location of implantation. In th e anterior chamber, diffuse, flat, heavily pigmented tumours appeared 8 day s after the injection of the cell suspension that covered the iris and the angle by day 25, with a success rate of 100%. Nodular, lightly pigmented tu mours were obtained 6-7 weeks after subchoroidal implantation, with a 25% s uccess rate. Clinical examination, including fundus photography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, demonstrated the same characteristics as t hose of human uveal melanoma, confirming the value of this model for the ev aluation of new therapeutic and diagnostic methods in the management of uve al melanoma. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.