Establishment of a subcutaneous model of the human extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma in nude mice via transplantation of histologically intact tumor tissue

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to establish the subcutaneous model of human extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma in nude mice so as to provide a suitable model for the study of extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. Surgical specimens of the patient with extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma were transplanted into the subcutaneous layer of nude mice. Growth curve of transplanted tumors was drawn and its morphological and biological characteristics, as well as choromosome were observed. A well differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma model of human bile duct carcinoma in nude mice, designated as HBDCM1-ZSH (Human Bile Duct Carcinoma Model No. 1 established by Zhong Shan Hospital in April, 2001), was established via subcutaneous transplantation of the surgically resected tumor from a 56-year-old Chinese man. HBDCM1-ZSH has been maintained for 13 passages and exhibited 98.1% transplantability. Mean latent periods were 26 days. Transplanted tumors exhibited the characteristics of the original tumor in morphology and biology. Chromosomal analysis revealed numerical abnormalities ranging from 67 to 84. HBDCM1-ZSH expressed carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9, cytokeratin (CK7, CK19, CK20), PCNA, AB and PAS. In conclusion, HBDCM1-ZSH is similar to human extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma and provides an applicable animal model for research on extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma.