Yu Wang1,2, Eric C Abenojar1, Jing Wang1, Al C de Leon1, Sidhartha Tavri1, Xinning Wang3, Ramamurthy Gopalakrishnan1, Ethan Walker3, Gregory T MacLennan4, Anoja Giles5, Gregory J Czarnota5,6, James P Basilion1,3, Agata A Exner1,3. 1. Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. 2. Department of Ultrasound, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China. 3. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. 4. Department of Pathology and Urology,, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. 5. Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 6. Departments of Radiation Oncology and Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) models in mice and rats are limited by their size and lack of a clearly delineated or easily accessible prostate gland. The canine PCa model is currently the only large animal model which can be used to test new preclinical interventions but is costly and availability is sparse. As an alternative, we developed an orthotopic human prostate tumor model in an immunosuppressed New Zealand White rabbit. Rabbits are phylogenetically closer to humans, their prostate gland is anatomically similar, and its size allows for clinically-relevant testing of interventions. METHODS: Rabbits were immunosuppressed via injection of cyclosporine. Human PC3pipGFP PCa cells were injected into the prostate via either (a) laparotomy or (b) transabdominal ultrasound (US) guided injection. Tumor growth was monitored using US and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging using nanobubbles and Lumason microbubbles was also performed to examine imaging features and determine the optimal contrast dose required for enhanced visualization of the tumor. Ex vivo fluorescence imaging, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry analyses of the collected tissues were performed to validate tumor morphology and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression. RESULTS: Immunosuppression and tumor growth were, in general, well-tolerated by the rabbits. Fourteen out of 20 rabbits, with an average age of 8 months, successfully grew detectable tumors from Day 14 onwards after cell injection. The tumor growth rate was 39 ± 25 mm2 per week. CEUS and MRI of tumors appear hypoechoic and T2 hypointense, respectively, relative to normal prostate tissue. Minimally invasive US-guided tumor cell injection proved to be a better method compared to laparotomy due to the shorter recovery time required for the rabbits following injection. Among the rabbits that grew tumors, seven had tumors both inside and outside the prostate, three had tumors only inside the prostate, and four had tumors exclusively outside of the prostate. All tumors expressed the PSMA receptor. CONCLUSIONS: We have established, for the first time, an orthotopic PCa rabbit model via percutaneous US-guided tumor cell inoculation. This animal model is an attractive, clinically relevant intermediate step to assess preclinical diagnostic and therapeutic compounds.
BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) models in mice and rats are limited by their size and lack of a clearly delineated or easily accessible prostate gland. The canine PCa model is currently the only large animal model which can be used to test new preclinical interventions but is costly and availability is sparse. As an alternative, we developed an orthotopic human prostate tumor model in an immunosuppressed New Zealand White rabbit. Rabbits are phylogenetically closer to humans, their prostate gland is anatomically similar, and its size allows for clinically-relevant testing of interventions. METHODS: Rabbits were immunosuppressed via injection of cyclosporine. Human PC3pipGFP PCa cells were injected into the prostate via either (a) laparotomy or (b) transabdominal ultrasound (US) guided injection. Tumor growth was monitored using US and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging using nanobubbles and Lumason microbubbles was also performed to examine imaging features and determine the optimal contrast dose required for enhanced visualization of the tumor. Ex vivo fluorescence imaging, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry analyses of the collected tissues were performed to validate tumor morphology and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression. RESULTS: Immunosuppression and tumor growth were, in general, well-tolerated by the rabbits. Fourteen out of 20 rabbits, with an average age of 8 months, successfully grew detectable tumors from Day 14 onwards after cell injection. The tumor growth rate was 39 ± 25 mm2 per week. CEUS and MRI of tumors appear hypoechoic and T2 hypointense, respectively, relative to normal prostate tissue. Minimally invasive US-guided tumor cell injection proved to be a better method compared to laparotomy due to the shorter recovery time required for the rabbits following injection. Among the rabbits that grew tumors, seven had tumors both inside and outside the prostate, three had tumors only inside the prostate, and four had tumors exclusively outside of the prostate. All tumors expressed the PSMA receptor. CONCLUSIONS: We have established, for the first time, an orthotopic PCa rabbit model via percutaneous US-guided tumor cell inoculation. This animal model is an attractive, clinically relevant intermediate step to assess preclinical diagnostic and therapeutic compounds.
Authors: Thomas K Rhee; Robert K Ryu; Affaan K Bangash; Dingxin Wang; Barbara Szolc-Kowalska; Kathleen R Harris; Kent T Sato; Howard B Chrisman; Robert L Vogelzang; Tatjana Paunesku; Gayle E Woloschak; Andrew C Larson; Reed A Omary Journal: J Vasc Interv Radiol Date: 2007-03 Impact factor: 3.464
Authors: Kenneth J Pienta; Cory Abate-Shen; David B Agus; Ricardo M Attar; Leland W K Chung; Norman M Greenberg; William C Hahn; John T Isaacs; Nora M Navone; Donna M Peehl; Jonathon W Simons; David B Solit; Howard R Soule; Terry A VanDyke; Michael J Weber; Lily Wu; Robert L Vessella Journal: Prostate Date: 2008-05-01 Impact factor: 4.104
Authors: Jeong Min Lee; Sang Won Kim; Gyung Ho Chung; Sang Yong Lee; Young Min Han; Chong Soo Kim Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2002-10-09 Impact factor: 5.315