Abstract
PurposeThis study was undertaken to establish a rabbit esophageal tumor model for mimicking human esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESC) by endoscopic and surgical implantation of VX2 tumors.MethodsFragments of a VX2 tumour were endoscopically implanted in the submucosal layer of the thoracic esophagus of 32 New Zealand white rabbits, while 34 animals received surgical implantation into the muscular layer. Then, the animals were studied endoscopically and pathologically. The safety and efficiency of the two methods and the pathological features of the animal models were analyzed.ResultsBoth the endoscopic and the surgical method had a relatively high success rate of tumor implantation [93.7% (30/32) vs. 97.1% (33/34)] and tumor growth [86.7% (26/30) vs. 81.8% (27/33)], and the variation in the results was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with those produced by the surgical method, the models produced by the endoscopic method had a higher rate of severe esophageal stricture [61.5% (16/26) vs. 29.6% (8/27)] and of intra-luminal tumor growth [73.1% (19/26) vs. 37.0% (10/27)], and had a lower rate of tumor invasion of adjacent organs [53.8% (14/26) vs. 81.5% (22/27)]; all of these results were statistically significant (P<0.05). However, the difference in the survival time and the rates of tumor regional/distant metastasis [38.5% (10/26) vs. 51.8% (14/27)] between the two methods were not statistically significant (P>0.05).ConclusionThe endoscopic and surgical methods are both safe and effective for establishment of VX2 tumors in the rabbit esophagus. The models produced by the two methods have different pathologic features mimicking that of human ESC. We recommend the models for studies on surgical procedures and minimally invasive treatments.
Highlights
The annual incidence of esophageal cancer is as high as 30 to 800 per 100,000 people
Small animal model for esophageal cancer, such as rodent models, are available and wildly used in research [4,5,6], moderate-to-large-sized animal models are still desperately needed for preclinical studies
The difference in the rates of severe esophageal stricture between the two groups was 31.9%
Summary
The annual incidence of esophageal cancer is as high as 30 to 800 per 100,000 people. For patients with advanced ESC, new therapeutic strategies are needed to prolong the survival time and improve the quality of life. The progress in relevant research is limited by the lack of a suitable moderate-to-large-sized animal model [3]. Small animal model for esophageal cancer, such as rodent models, are available and wildly used in research [4,5,6], moderate-to-large-sized animal models are still desperately needed for preclinical studies. Compared with the rodent tumor model, moderate-to-large-sized animal models can better simulate the human body environment and allow for research on surgical operations and minimally invasive treatments [7,8,9] such as endoscopic therapy, stent placement and intravascular interventional treatments
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