3D monitoring of tumor volume in an in vivo model

Issue title: Selected papers of the 39th Conference of the German Society for Clinical Microcirculation and Hemorheology, 6-7 November 2020, Hannover, Germany

Guest editors: B. Hiebl, A. Krüger-Genge and F. Jung

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Troebs, Johannes^{a; 1} | Asam, Claudia^{a; 1} | Pion, Eric^a | Prantl, Lukas^b | Aung, Thiha^{a; b; *} | Haerteis, Silke^a

Affiliations: [a] Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany | [b] Center of Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Thiha Aung, MD, University Center of Plastic-, Aesthetic, Hand- and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, Germany. E-mail: [email protected].

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:The ability to evaluate tumor development within experimental oncology is of upmost importance. However, determining tumor volumes in 3D in vivo tumor models is challenging. The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model represents an optimized xenograft model that surpasses many disadvantages that are inherent to rodent models and provides the opportunity of real-time monitoring of tumor growth. OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to introduce a new method that enables monitoring of tumor growth within the CAM model throughout the course of the experiment. METHODS:Sarcoma cell lines and sarcoma primary tumors were grafted onto the CAM of fertilized chicken eggs. A digital microscope (Keyence VHX-6000) was used for 3D volume monitoring before and after tumor excision and compared it to tumor weight. RESULTS:Accuracy of tumor volumes was validated through correlation with tumor weight. In and ex ovo tumor volumes correlated significantly with tumor weight values. CONCLUSIONS:The described method can be used to assess the effects of chemotherapeutic agents on the growth of tumors that have been grafted onto the CAM and further advance personalized cancer therapy. In summary, we established a promising protocol that enables in vivo real-time tracking of tumor growth in the CAM model using a digital microscope.

Keywords: Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), in vivo tumor model, tumor profiling, rhabdomyosarcoma, sarcoma, volume measurement, 3D volume

DOI: 10.3233/CH-209216

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 76, no. 2, pp. 123-131, 2020