Animal model of para-aortic lymph node metastasis

The purpose of this study was to establish a model of experimental lymph no de metastasis by intra-rectal implantation of human cancer cells in nude mi ce. Four types of human cancer cell lines (TE-1, MKN-45, HT-29, and MIAPaca -2) were investigated. Tumor cells suspended in Matrigel (TM) were injected into the submucosal layer of the rectum. All cancer cell lines produced lo cally aggressive rectal tumors and, subsequently, para-aortic lymph node me tastasis. We were unable to produce other distant metastases in the dying s tate in such locations as the liver, spleen, lung, and peritoneum. However, using this method, we were able to evaluate the effect of the anti-cancer agent uracil/tegafur (UFT) on primary tumor growth and lymph node metastasi s. Oral intake of UFT significantly suppressed implanted tumor volume and i nhibited lymph node metastasis. We expect that the process of lymph node me tastasis shown in this model will be studied as an experimental model of ly mph node metastasis simulating human cancers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ire land Ltd. All rights reserved.