A.S. was partially supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (5R03DE021741-02) and the National Cancer Institute (1K08CA154963-01A1).&#160;
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute provided funding for M.L. through the HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program.

1. Egg Incubation
<ol>
	<li>Obtain 8 day old specific pathogen-free embryonated eggs.</li>
	<li>Place eggs in rotating egg tray, stamped ends facing upwards, and place the rotating tray inside an egg incubator. Incubate eggs for 48 hr&#160;at 36 &#176;C and 50% humidity.</li>
</ol>
2. Dropping the CAM and Opening the Eggs
<ol>
	<li>Gather eggs from incubator. Place eggs in egg rack, stamped side up, and bring to laminar flow hood.</li>
	<li>Turn off the room and hood lights.</li>
	<li>Hold the stamped end of egg lightly to the egg candler to expose the vasculature of the CAM as well as the air sac. 
	NOTE: The egg candler is a light source used to visualize the developing embryo and associated air sac and vasculature.</li>
	<li>Place a pencil mark in between two major blood vessels.</li>
	<li>Turn on the lights and use a sterile push pin to make one hole at the tip of the egg above the air sac (stamped end) and one hole at the pencil mark. Do not push the push pin all the way through; a hole around 3 mm deep will usually suffice.</li>
	<li>Turn off the lights. Squeeze safety bulb, pressing the open end firmly against the hole above the air sac. Apply suction to pull air into the hole at the pencil mark, causing the CAM to drop away from the shell at the pencil mark.</li>
	<li>Check that the air sac has moved from the stamped end of the egg to the pencil-marked hole using the candler. If it has not, use the push pin to make both holes slightly deeper and then re-apply suction using the safety bulb.</li>
	<li>Turn on the lights. Holding the egg in one hand, turn on the dremel rotary tool with a 15/16 inch cut-off wheel attached and make two transverse cuts just deep enough to cut through the shell but not deep enough to cut all the way down to the depressed CAM. Make the cuts around 2 cm in length and 1 cm apart from each other. Make the cuts wide enough so that a silicone ring 1 cm in diameter can pass through but thinner than the width of standard scotch tape.</li>
	<li>Next, make 1 longitudinal cut between and at the ends of the two transverse cuts by lightly touching the cut-off wheel to the shell.</li>
	<li>Slide sterile forceps under the shell piece and parallel to the shell. Grab the shell piece with the forceps and remove the entire piece cleanly.</li>
	<li>Place scotch tape over the newly opened window, making sure to fold one end over on itself for ease of removal.</li>
	<li>Place eggs back in incubator in the egg tray (NOT in the rotating egg racks) until time of inoculation.</li>
</ol>
3. Inoculation
<ol>
	<li>Keep basement membrane protein mixture, such as matrigel, on ice (to prevent polymerization) and place in hood.</li>
	<li>Use 2 mM EDTA to detach cells (4 - 5 ml per T75 flask) and place flasks in tissue culture incubator for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Resuspend the detached cells in media and count using a hemocytometer and trypan blue. Use between 500,000 to 2,000,000 cells for grafting onto the CAM, depending on cell line. Optimize the proper number in preliminary experiments.</li>
	<li>Measure volume required for appropriate cell number and centrifuge at 500 x g for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Discard supernatant and then resuspend cell pellet in 40 &#181;l of PBS++ and 20 &#181;l of basement membrane mixture. 
	NOTE: At this point, cells can be treated with drugs or other test agents as needed for experiments by resuspending into the cell/basement membrane mixture suspension. Alternatively, agents can be pipetted onto the cell/basement membrane mixture suspension after grafting.</li>
	<li>Retrieve egg rack with eggs from the incubator and place in the laminar flow hood.</li>
	<li>Peel tape off of the window, retrieve a 1 mm silicone ring from the cap of a cryogenic vial using sterilized forceps, and drop the ring through the window.</li>
	<li>Pipet the 60 &#181;l cell solution of PBS++ and basement membrane mixture directly into the center of the silicone ring resting on the CAM.</li>
	<li>Re-tape the window and move egg rack back to incubator. At this point, use caution when moving the eggs as the ring and the cell suspension can easily become displaced.</li>
	<li>Allow tumors to grow for 5 to 7 days.</li>
</ol>
4. Harvesting Tumors
<ol>
	<li>Place under-pad in hood. Prepare 35 x 10 mm plates and paraformaldehyde containers as needed for histology. Put 1 ml PBS++ in each 35 x 10 mm plate.</li>
	<li>Place biohazard bag in hood. Take sterile dissection scissors and insert the pointed end into the egg at the hole near the stamped end.</li>
	<li>Cut around the entire egg longitudinally. 
	NOTE: the CAM and the tumor with the ring should stick to the top half of the shell with the window.</li>
	<li>Using dissection scissors and forceps, dissect the tumor away from the CAM and place tumor in the 35 x 10 mm plate. Measure and weigh tumors. Fixed tumors in paraformaldehyde and then paraffin-embed them for use in histology and immunohistochemistry experiments.</li>
</ol>
5. (Optional): Tumor Cell Dissociation
<ol>
	<li>Use dissection scissors to mince the tumor in the 35 x 10 mm plate. Pour minced tumor into a 15 ml centrifuge tube and remove as much PBS++ as possible through pipetting.</li>
	<li>Add 2 ml of collagenase (1 mg/ml in PBS++), turn tube over several times, and incubate tube at 37 &#176;C for at least 30 min (up to several hours).</li>
	<li>Add 5 ml media to each tube and resuspend thoroughly by pipetting up and down 20 - 40x. Thorough pipetting is critical for complete cell dissociation.</li>
	<li>Allow sediment to settle, and transfer the supernatant to a fresh tube. Centrifuge at 500 x g for 5 min. Remove supernatant, leaving behind dissociated cell pellet. 
	NOTE: At this point, cell pellets can be used for various experiments (flow cytometry, lysis for use in Western blotting, RNA isolation, etc). Total tumor cell count can also be obtained using a hemocytometer and trypan blue staining. Note that smaller, oval-shaped cells are chicken cells from the CAM and should not be counted as tumor cells. There should be a minimal number of contaminating non-tumor (CAM) cells if the tumor is dissected away from the CAM carefully.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Sangiovanni, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Increased+survival+of+cirrhotic+patients+with+a+hepatocellular+carcinoma+detected+during+surveillance.">Increased survival of cirrhotic patients with a hepatocellular carcinoma detected during surveillance.</a> Gastroenterology. 126 (4), 1005-1014 (2004).</li><li>Lopez, P. M., Villanueva, A., Llovet, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Systematic+review:+evidence-based+management+of+hepatocellular+carcinoma--an+updated+analysis+of+randomized+controlled+trials.">Systematic review: evidence-based management of hepatocellular carcinoma--an updated analysis of randomized controlled trials.</a> Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 23 (11), 1535-1547 (2006).</li><li>Llovet, J. M., Burroughs, A., Bruix, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hepatocellular+carcinoma.">Hepatocellular carcinoma.</a> Lancet. 362 (9399), 1907-1917 (2003).</li><li>Folkman, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=What+is+the+evidence+that+tumors+are+angiogenesis+dependent.">What is the evidence that tumors are angiogenesis dependent.</a> J Natl Cancer Inst. 82, 4-6 (1990).</li><li>Hagedorn, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Accessing+key+steps+of+human+tumor+progression+in+vivo+by+using+an+avian+embryo+model.">Accessing key steps of human tumor progression in vivo by using an avian embryo model.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 102 (5), 1643-1648 (2005).</li><li>Dumartin, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Netrin-1+mediates+early+events+in+pancreatic+adenocarcinoma+progression,+acting+on+tumor+and+endothelial+cells.">Netrin-1 mediates early events in pancreatic adenocarcinoma progression, acting on tumor and endothelial cells.</a> Gastroenterology. 138 (4), 1595-1606 (2010).</li><li>Aguirre-Ghiso, J. A., Estrada, Y., Liu, D., Ossowski, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ERK(MAPK)+activity+as+a+determinant+of+tumor+growth+and+dormancy;+regulation+by+p38(SAPK).">ERK(MAPK) activity as a determinant of tumor growth and dormancy; regulation by p38(SAPK).</a> Cancer Res. 63 (7), 1684-1695 (2003).</li><li>Baroni, T. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ribonomic+and+short+hairpin+RNA+gene+silencing+methods+to+explore+functional+gene+programs+associated+with+tumor+growth+arrest.">Ribonomic and short hairpin RNA gene silencing methods to explore functional gene programs associated with tumor growth arrest.</a> Methods Mol Biol. 383, 227-244 (2007).</li><li>Lopez-Rivera, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inducible+nitric+oxide+synthase+drives+mTOR+pathway+activation+and+proliferation+of+human+melanoma+by+reversible+nitrosylation+of+TSC2.">Inducible nitric oxide synthase drives mTOR pathway activation and proliferation of human melanoma by reversible nitrosylation of TSC2.</a> Cancer Res. 74 (4), 1067-1078 (2014).</li><li>Balke, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+short-term+in+vivo+model+for+giant+cell+tumor+of+bone.">A short-term in vivo model for giant cell tumor of bone.</a> BMC Cancer. 11, 241 (2011).</li><li>Balke, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Morphologic+characterization+of+osteosarcoma+growth+on+the+chick+chorioallantoic+membrane.">Morphologic characterization of osteosarcoma growth on the chick chorioallantoic membrane.</a> BMC Res Notes. 3, 58 (2010).</li><li>Sys, G. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+in+ovo+CAM-assay+as+a+xenograft+model+for+sarcoma.">The in ovo CAM-assay as a xenograft model for sarcoma.</a> J Vis Exp. (77), e50522 (2013).</li><li>Dohle, D. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chick+ex+ovo+culture+and+ex+ovo+CAM+assay:+how+it+really+works.">Chick ex ovo culture and ex ovo CAM assay: how it really works.</a> J Vis Exp. 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A.S.&#160;receives&#160;funding from the Advaxis Pharmaceutical company to support an investigator-initiated clinical trial.&#160;

Several key steps in this protocol most likely account for the improved embryonic survival as well as increased reliability of tumor growth. Dropping the CAM away from the shell by applying suction to the air sac is less invasive than other existing methods (using a needle to remove albumin from the egg, blunt dissection, etc.). Using a sterile push pin to create the two small holes required for this method is the most challenging part of the protocol. Using too much force can result in damage to the CAM and its vasculat...

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 3rd leading cause of cancer mortality in the world1. Currently only 30% of HCC patients are eligible for potentially curative surgical treatments2, and systemic chemotherapy is not efficacious3. Therefore, there is a pressing unmet clinical need for novel HCC therapies, and the development of model systems suitable for efficient testing of new agents. The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay provides a reproducible, cost-effective, and fast medium-throughput method of testing potential anti-tumor drugs in vivo.
The CAM assay has been used extensively to study angiogenesis4. It has also been successfully developed into a tumor xenograft model of cancers, including glioblastoma5, pancreatic cancer6, melanoma7-9, and osteosarcoma10-11. Both in ovo12 and ex ovo13 techniques have been utilized in the literature, with details varying from protocol to protocol. One major challenge to the CAM xenograft model is the relatively high incidence of embryonic death after manipulation of the egg, with published chick embryo mortality rates ranging from 25 - 50 percent11-14.
In this article, we describe the development of an in ovo xenograft model of HCC that reliably produces growth of three-dimensional, vascularized tumors that histologically resemble undifferentiated HCC. We have adapted a protocol first described by Ossowski et al.14 and have achieved chick embryonic survival rates of up to 93% with extremely high tumor engraftment.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1094">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:401px;">Name of Reagent/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:467px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:401px;">Premium incubated eggs</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Charles River</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">N/A</td>
			<td>http://www.criver.com/files/pdfs/avian/av_c_spf_egg_price_list.aspx</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:401px;">Egg incubators</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">GQF</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Hova-Bator 2362N</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:401px;">Rotating egg trays</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">GQF</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1611 Automatic Egg Turner</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:401px;">Egg candler</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Lyon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Hi-Power 950-070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:401px;">Dremel 100 rotary tool with 15/16 cut-off wheel</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Dremel</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">100-N/7</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:401px;">Sterile forceps, push pin, dissection scissors, Scotch tape</td>
			<td style="width:108px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:401px;">Matrigel</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">356234</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:401px;">Cryogenic vials, external thread with silicone washer</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">430659</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:401px;">Collagenase from Clostridium histolyticum</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C9891</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

the in ovo chick chorioallantoic membrane (cam) assay as an efficient xenograft model of hepatocellular carcinoma

The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) begins to develop by day 7 after fertilization and matures by day 12. The CAM is naturally immunodeficient and highly vascularized, making it an ideal system for tumor implantation. Furthermore, the CAM contains extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin, laminin, collagen, integrin alpha(v)beta3, and MMP-2, making it an attractive model to study tumor invasion and metastasis. Scientists have long taken advantage of the physiology of the CAM by using it as a model of angiogenesis. More recently, the CAM assay has been modified to work as an in vivo xenograft model system for various cancers that bridges the gap between basic in vitro work and more complex animal cancer models. The CAM assay allows for the study of tumor growth, anti-tumor therapies, and pro-tumor molecular pathways in a biologically relevant system that is both cost- and time-effective. Here, we describe the development of CAM xenograft model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with embryonic survival rates of up to 93% and reliable tumor take leading to growth of three-dimensional, vascularized tumors.

Representative pictures of key steps in the protocol are shown here. Figure 1A demonstrates the use of the candler to visualize the developing embryo, the air sac, and the vasculature of the CAM. Figure 1B-1C show the process of dropping the CAM by making the two holes and then applying negative pressure using the safety bulb, and Figure 1D shows a successfully dropped CAM with a large air bubble under the pencil-marked hole. Figure 1E and Figure...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The In Ovo Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane CAM Assay as an Efficient Xenograft Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma at JoVE.com

The In Ovo Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane CAM Assay as an Efficient Xenograft Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is immunodeficient and highly vascularized, making it a natural in vivo model of tumor growth and angiogenesis. In this protocol, we describe a reliable method of growing three-dimensional, vascularized hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors using the CAM assay.

The In Ovo Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Assay as an Efficient Xenograft Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) begins to develop by day 7 after fertilization and matures by day 12. The CAM is naturally immunodeficient and ...

the-ovo-chick-chorioallantoic-membrane-cam-assay-as-an-efficient

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

35.0K Views.  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is immunodeficient and highly vascularized, making it a natural in vivo model of tumor growth and angiogenesis. In this protocol, we describe a reliable method of growing three-dimensional, vascularized hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors using the CAM assay.

Video: The In Ovo Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane CAM Assay as an Efficient Xenograft Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Multi-photon Imaging of Tumor Cell Invasion in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Loco-regional invasion of head and neck cancer is linked to metastatic risk and presents a difficult challenge in designing and implementing patient management strategies. Orthotopic mouse models of oral cancer have been developed to facilitate the study of factors that impact invasion and serve as model system for evaluating anti-tumor therapeutics. In these systems, visualization of disseminated tumor cells within oral cavity tissues has typically been conducted by either conventional histology or with in vivo bioluminescent methods. A primary drawback of these techniques is the inherent inability to accurately visualize and quantify early tumor cell invasion arising from the primary site in three dimensions. Here we describe a protocol that combines an established model for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (SCOT) with two-photon imaging to allow multi-vectorial visualization of lingual tumor spread. The OSC-19 head and neck tumor cell line was stably engineered to express the F-actin binding peptide LifeAct fused to the mCherry fluorescent protein (LifeAct-mCherry). Fox1nu/nu mice injected with these cells reliably form tumors that allow the tongue to be visualized by ex-vivo application of two-photon microscopy. This technique allows for the orthotopic visualization of the tumor mass and locally invading cells in excised tongues without disruption of the regional tumor microenvironment. In addition, this system allows for the quantification of tumor cell invasion by calculating distances that invaded cells move from the primary tumor site. Overall this procedure provides an enhanced model system for analyzing factors that contribute to SCOT invasion and therapeutic treatments tailored to prevent local invasion and distant metastatic spread. This method also has the potential to be ultimately combined with other imaging modalities in an in vivo setting.

A comprehensive overview of the techniques involved in generating a mouse model of oral cancer and quantitative monitoring of tumor invasion within the tongue through multi-photon microscopy of labeled cells is presented. This system can serve as a useful platform for the molecular assessment and drug efficacy of anti-invasive compounds.

Loco-regional invasion of head and neck cancer is linked to metastatic risk and presents a difficult challenge in designing and implementing patient ...

An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma

Several types of animal models of human thyroid carcinomas have been established, including subcutaneous xenograft and orthotopic implantation of cancer cells into immunodeficient mice. Subcutaneous xenograft models have been valuable for preclinical screening and evaluation of new therapeutic treatments. There are a number of advantages to using a subcutaneous model; 1) rapid, 2) reproducible, and 3) tumor establishment, growth, and response to therapeutic agents may be monitored by visual inspection. However, substantial evidence has shed light on the short-comings of subcutaneous xenograft models1-3. For instance, medicinal treatments demonstrating curative properties in subcutaneous xenograft models often have no notable impact on the human disease. The microenvironment of the site of xenographic transplantation or injection lies at the heart of this dissimilarity.
Orthotopic tumor xenograft models provide a more biologically relevant context in which to study the disease. The advantages of implanting diseased cells or tissue into their anatomical origin equivalent within a host animal includes a suitable site for tumor-host interactions, development of disease-related metastases and the ability to examine site-specific influence on investigational therapeutic remedies. Therefore, orthotopic xenograft models harbor far more clinical value because they closely reproduce human disease. For these reasons, a number of groups have taken advantage of an orthotopic thyroid cancer model as a research tool4-7.
Here, we describe an approach that establishes an orthotopic model for the study of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), which is highly invasive, resists treatment, and is virtually fatal in all diagnosed patients. Cultured ATC cells are prepared as a dissociated cellular suspension in a solution containing a basement membrane matrix. A small volume is slowly injected into the right thyroid gland. Overall appearance and health of the mice are monitored to ensure minimal post-operative complications and to gauge pathological penetrance of the cancer. Mice are sacrificed at 4 weeks, and tissue is collected for histological analysis. Animals may be taken at later time-points to examine more advance progression of the disease. Production of this orthotopic mouse model establishes a platform that accomplishes two objectives: 1) further our understanding of ATC pathology, and 2) screen current and future therapeutic agents for efficacy in combating ATC.

Generation of an orthotopic mouse model of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is described here. This technique employs surgical placement of human anaplastic thyroid cancer cells into the thyroid of immunodeficient mice, thus creating a more clinically relevant setting to study disease progression as well as screen innovative therapeutic interventions.

Several types of animal models of human thyroid carcinomas have been established, including subcutaneous xenograft and orthotopic implantation of cancer ...

The In ovo CAM-assay as a Xenograft Model for Sarcoma

Sarcoma is a very rare disease that is heterogeneous in nature, all hampering the development of new therapies. Sarcoma patients are ideal candidates for personalized medicine after stratification, explaining the current interest in developing a reproducible and low-cost xenotransplant model for this disease. The chick chorioallantoic membrane is a natural immunodeficient host capable of sustaining grafted tissues and cells without species-specific restrictions. In addition, it is easily accessed, manipulated and imaged using optical and fluorescence stereomicroscopy. Histology further allows detailed analysis of heterotypic cellular interactions.
This protocol describes in detail the in ovo grafting of the chorioallantoic membrane with fresh sarcoma-derived tumor tissues, their single cell suspensions, and permanent and transient fluorescently labeled established sarcoma cell lines (Saos-2 and SW1353). The chick survival rates are up to 75%. The model is used to study graft- (viability, Ki67 proliferation index, necrosis, infiltration) and host (fibroblast infiltration, vascular ingrowth) behavior. For localized grafting of single cell suspensions, ECM gel provides significant advantages over inert containment materials. The Ki67 proliferation index is related to the distance of the cells from the surface of the CAM and the duration of application on the CAM, the latter determining a time frame for the addition of therapeutic products.

The In ovo CAM-assay as a Xenograft Model for Sarcoma

The in ovo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is grafted with fresh sarcoma-derived tumor tissues, their single cell suspensions, and permanent and transient fluorescently labeled established sarcoma cell lines. The model is used to study graft- (viability, Ki67 proliferation index, necrosis, infiltration) and host (fibroblast infiltration, vascular ingrowth) behavior.

Sarcoma is a very rare disease that is heterogeneous in nature, all hampering the development of new therapies. Sarcoma patients are ideal candidates for ...

Generation of Subcutaneous and Intrahepatic Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Xenografts in Immunodeficient Mice

In vivo experimental models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that recapitulate the human disease provide a valuable platform for research into disease pathophysiology and for the preclinical evaluation of novel therapies. We present a variety of methods to generate subcutaneous or orthotopic human HCC xenografts in immunodeficient mice that could be utilized in a variety of research applications. With a focus on the use of primary tumor tissue from patients undergoing surgical resection as a starting point, we describe the preparation of cell suspensions or tumor fragments for xenografting. We describe specific techniques to xenograft these tissues i) subcutaneously; or ii) intrahepatically, either by direct implantation of tumor cells or fragments into the liver, or indirectly by injection of cells into the mouse spleen. We also describe the use of partial resection of the native mouse liver at the time of xenografting as a strategy to induce a state of active liver regeneration in the recipient mouse that may facilitate the intrahepatic engraftment of primary human tumor cells. The expected results of these techniques are illustrated. The protocols described have been validated using primary human HCC samples and xenografts, which typically perform less robustly than the well-established human HCC cell lines that are widely used and frequently cited in the literature. In comparison with cell lines, we discuss factors which may contribute to the relatively low chance of primary HCC engraftment in xenotransplantation models and comment on technical issues that may influence the kinetics of xenograft growth. We also suggest methods that should be applied to ensure that xenografts obtained accurately resemble parent HCC tissues.

Human tumor xenografts in immunodeficient mice are valuable tools to study cancer biology. Specific protocols to generate subcutaneous and intrahepatic xenografts from human hepatocellular carcinoma cells or tumor fragments are described. Liver regeneration induced by partial hepatectomy in recipient mice is presented as a strategy to facilitate intrahepatic engraftment.

In  vivo experimental models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that recapitulate  the human disease provide a valuable platform for research into disease  ...

Excitotoxic Stimulation of Brain Microslices as an In vitro Model of Stroke

Examining molecular mechanisms involved in neuropathological conditions, such as ischemic stroke, can be difficult when using whole animal systems. As such, primary or &#39;neuronal-like&#39; cell culture systems are commonly utilized. While&#160;these systems are relatively easy to work with, and are useful model systems in which various functional outcomes (such as cell death) can be readily quantified, the examined outcomes and pathways in cultured immature neurons (such as excitotoxicity-mediated cell death pathways) are not necessarily the same as those observed in mature brain, or in intact tissue. Therefore, there is the need to develop models in which cellular mechanisms in mature neural tissue can be examined. We have developed an in vitro technique that can be used to investigate a variety of molecular pathways in intact nervous tissue. The technique described herein utilizes rat cortical tissue, but this technique can be adapted to use tissue from a variety of species (such as mouse, rabbit, guinea pig, and chicken) or brain regions (for example, hippocampus, striatum, etc.). Additionally, a variety of stimulations/treatments can be used (for example, excitotoxic, administration of inhibitors, etc.). In conclusion, the brain slice model described herein can be used to examine a variety of molecular mechanisms involved in excitotoxicity-mediated brain injury.

Excitotoxic Stimulation of Brain Microslices as an In vitro Model of Stroke

We have developed a brain slice model which can be used to examine molecular mechanisms involved in excitotoxicity-mediated brain injury.&#160;This technique generates viable mature brain tissue and reduces animal numbers required for experimentation, whilst keeping the neuronal circuitry, cellular interactions, and postsynaptic compartments partly intact.

Examining molecular mechanisms involved in neuropathological conditions, such as ischemic stroke, can be difficult when using whole animal systems. As ...

Confocal Time Lapse Imaging as an Efficient Method for the Cytocompatibility Evaluation of Dental Composites

It is generally accepted that in vitro cell material interaction is a useful criterion in the evaluation of dental material biocompatibility. The objective of this study was to use 3D CLSM time lapse confocal imaging to assess the in vitro biocompatibility of dental composites. This method provides an accurate and sensitive indication of viable cell rate in contact with dental composite extracts. The ELS extra low shrinkage, a dental composite used for direct restoration, has been taken as example. In vitro assessment was performed on cultured primary human gingival fibroblast cells using Live/Dead staining. Images were obtained with the FV10i confocal biological inverted system and analyzed with the FV10-ASW 3.1 Software. Image analysis showed a very slight cytotoxicity in the presence of the tested composite after 5 hours of time lapse. A slight decrease of cell viability was shown in contact with the tested composite extracts compared to control cells. The findings highlighted the use of 3D CLSM time lapse imaging as a sensitive method to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the biocompatibility behavior of dental composites.

The most studied aspect of the biocompatibility of dental composites is their cytotoxicity 3D CLSM time lapse imaging combined with fluorescent signal quantification allows sensitive evaluation of the cell fate over time. Utilizing this method could be an efficient tool to assess the cytocompatibility of dental composites.

It is generally accepted that in vitro cell material interaction is a useful criterion in the evaluation of dental material biocompatibility. The ...

A "Patient-Like" Orthotopic Syngeneic Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis

The majority of cancer-related deaths are caused by the metastasis of the cancer rather than the primary tumor itself. Yet, the underlying mechanisms of cancer metastasis are still unclear. Animal models are essential for elucidating the mechanisms and for evaluating novel strategies for the treatment of metastatic cancers. Here, an in-depth description of a &#8220;patient-like&#8221; orthotopic syngeneic mouse model for exploring the mechanisms of metastasis of solid organ tumors is provided. The survival surgical implantation of BNL 1ME A.7R.1 mouse hepatocellular carcinoma cells directly into the liver (the organ of origin) of the inbred wild-type immune competent laboratory mouse strain, BALB/c is described. The success and reproducibility of this methodology recommends it for widespread use in elucidating the biological mechanisms of solid organ cancer metastasis.

A &quot;Patient-Like&quot; Orthotopic Syngeneic Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis

The metastatic spread of cancer is the major cause of cancer-related deaths. We provide an in-depth description of our survival surgery methodology for establishing a &#8220;patient-like&#8221; orthotopic syngeneic mouse model system for studying the mechanisms of metastasis in solid organ tumors.

The majority of cancer-related deaths are caused by the metastasis of the cancer rather than the primary tumor itself. Yet, the underlying mechanisms of ...

Designing CAD/CAM Surgical Guides for Maxillary Reconstruction Using an In-house Approach

Computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is now being evaluated as a preparative technique for maxillofacial surgery. Because this technique is expensive and available in only limited areas of the world, we developed a novel CAD/CAM surgical guide using an in-house approach. By using the CAD software, the maxillary resection area and cutting planes and the fibular cutting planes and angles are determined. Once the resection area is decided, the necessary faces are extracted using a Boolean modifier. These superficial faces are united to fit the surface of the bones and thickened to stabilize the solids. Not only the cutting guides for the fibula and maxilla but also the location arrangement of the transferred bone segments is defined by thickening the superficial faces. The CAD design is recorded as .stl files and three-dimensionally (3-D) printed as actual surgical guides. To check the accuracy of the guides, model surgery using 3-D-printed facial and fibular models is performed. These methods may be used to assist surgeons where commercial guides are not available.

Methods for designing a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) surgical guide are shown. Cutting planes are separated, united, and thickened to easily visualize the necessary bone transfer. These designs can be three-dimensional printed and checked for accuracy.

Computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is now being evaluated as a preparative technique for maxillofacial surgery. Because this ...

Isometric Contractility Measurement of the Mouse Mesenteric Artery Using Wire Myography

The wire myograph technique is used to assess the contractility of vascular smooth muscles in response to depolarization, GPCR agonists/inhibitors and drugs. It is widely used in many studies on the physiological functions of vascular smooth muscle, the pathogenesis of vascular diseases such as hypertension, and the development of smooth muscle relaxant drugs. The mouse is a widely used model animal with a large pool of disease models and genetically modified strains. We introduced this method to measure the isometric contraction of mouse mesenteric artery in detail. A 1.4-mm segment of mouse mesenteric resistance artery was isolated and mounted on a myograph chamber by passing two steel wires through its lumen. After equilibration and normalization steps, the vessel segment was potentiated by a high-K+ solution twice prior to the contraction assay. As an example of the application of this method in drug development, we measured the relaxant effect of a novel natural substance, neoliensinine, isolated from a Chinese herb, embryos of the lotus seed (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) on mouse mesenteric arteries. The vessel segments mounted on the myograph chamber were stimulated with a high-K+ solution. When the force tension reached a stable sustained phase, cumulative doses of neoliensinine were added to the chamber. We found that neoliensinine had a dose-dependent relaxant effect on smooth muscle contraction, thus suggesting that it bears potential activity against hypertension. In addition, as the vessel segment can survive at least 4 hours after mounting and maintain contractility induced by the high-K+ solution for many times, we suggest that the wire myograph system may be used for the time-consuming process of drug screening.

The wire myograph technique is used to investigate vascular smooth muscle functions and screen new drugs. We report a detailed protocol for measuring the isometric contractility of the mouse mesenteric artery and for screening new relaxants of vascular smooth muscle.

The wire myograph technique is used to assess the contractility of vascular smooth muscles in response to depolarization, GPCR agonists/inhibitors and ...

Predicting Treatment Response to Image-Guided Therapies Using Machine Learning: An Example for Trans-Arterial Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Intra-arterial therapies are the standard of care for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who cannot undergo surgical resection. The objective of this study was to develop a method to predict response to intra-arterial treatment prior to intervention.
The method provides a general framework for predicting outcomes prior to intra-arterial therapy. It involves pooling clinical, demographic and imaging data across a cohort of patients and using these data to train a machine learning model. The trained model is applied to new patients in order to predict their likelihood of response to intra-arterial therapy.
The method entails the acquisition and parsing of clinical, demographic and imaging data from N patients who have already undergone trans-arterial therapies. These data are parsed into discrete features (age, sex, cirrhosis, degree of tumor enhancement, etc.) and binarized into true/false values (e.g., age over 60, male gender, tumor enhancement beyond a set threshold, etc.). Low-variance features and features with low univariate associations with the outcome are removed. Each treated patient is labeled according to whether they responded or did not respond to treatment. Each training patient is thus represented by a set of binary features and an outcome label. Machine learning models are trained using N - 1 patients with testing on the left-out patient. This process is repeated for each of the N patients. The N models are averaged to arrive at a final model.
The technique is extensible and enables inclusion of additional features in the future. It is also a generalizable process that may be applied to clinical research questions outside of interventional radiology. The main limitation is the need to derive features manually from each patient. A popular modern form of machine learning called deep learning does not suffer from this limitation, but requires larger datasets.

Intra-arterial therapies are the standard of care for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who cannot undergo surgical resection. A method for predicting response to these therapies is proposed. The technique uses pre-procedural clinical, demographic, and imaging information to train machine learning models capable of predicting response prior to treatment.

Intra-arterial therapies are the standard of care for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who cannot undergo surgical resection. The objective of this ...