A simple, reproducible technique for establishing leptomeningeal tumors in nude rats.

The incidence of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is on the rise and current treatment modalities have limited efficacy. The development of new treatment strategies has been hampered by the lack of an appropriate animal model that accurately parallels the clinical condition. We have developed a new surgical technique for the establishment of leptomeningeal tumors in rats. Our technique is simple, reproducible and associated with low morbidity and mortality. Tumor implantation resulted in a defined neurological endpoint and a reproducible time course of disease progression using both human medulloblastoma and breast carcinoma cell lines. This animal model provides an appropriate system for testing conventional and new biologic therapies in both early and late stages of leptomeningeal disease.