Hi all,

My lab has been working with Athymic Nude mice in order to test anti-cancer compounds in mice with tumor xenografts. The main cell line we work with is the epidermoid carcinoma line A431.

We typically re-suspend the cells in 50% matrigel-50% serum-free DMEM, and inject as low as 4x10^5 cells/mouse.

However, these tumors grow very rapidly, to the point that they begin necrosis and shrinking after a few as 7 days.

In addition to this, some mice, across all treatment groups, have developed red spots all over their body. Some of these mice show signs of cachexia, while others do not. There does not seem to be a correlation with tumor size and the red spots. A431 is the only cell line that this occurs with in our mice.

My question is could the matrigel and/or DMEM be causing the higher rate of growth and/or red spots? My PI wonders if the high glucose level in the DMEM would be contributing to the growth rate, and thinks we should try resuspending the cells in just PBS (or perhaps Hank's Solution) when we do the subcutaneous injections. Has anyone else experienced something of this nature?

Jorge Marquez