Histologic Similarity between the Primary Tumor and Xenograft of AMC-HN Cell Lines in Nude Mice

Jun, Hyung Kyung; Kim, Sang Yoon; Gong, Gyung Yub

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer(HNC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) accounts for 85-90% of all HNC. However, its biologic behavior has little been known yet.
OBJECTIVES
In the present investigation, Eight of nine cell lines, which were developed and characterized in Asan Medical Center of University of Ulsan, were tested for tumor formation and histology in nude mice.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Explant cultures of fresh tumor tissue were used to develop new permanent tumor cell lines. Five-to ten million-cells were injected subcutaneously into 3-to 6-week-old male nude mice and the formation of tumors was evaluated after 3 to 8 weeks.
RESULTS
Eight cell lines(AMC-HN-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7 and -9) produced progressively growing tumor, and were noticed remarkable similarity of the histologic feature to original tumor. Well formed keratin pearls were present both in the original tumor and the tumor produced by the AMC-HN-3 and -7 cell lines. AMC-HN-2 and -6 grew in well formed infiltrating cords with a prominent stromal network exactly like that in the original tumor. The undifferentiated carcinoma from AMC-HN-9 has the same histologic and immunohistochemical pattern.
CONCLUSION
The histologic similarity between original tumors and AMC-HN cell lines are representative that cell lines are promised to be good in vitro models for study of HNC biology.