I am willing to do in vivo study (Xenograft) using 4T1 cell line (murine breast cancer cell line) and as I understand this cell line can highly metastasize to different organs. My goal of the study is to inhibit growth and not stop metastasis. So, even though the cell line grows very fast, it is not the suitable. Any help will be appreciated.
Dear colleague,
I`m about to start a new project with the same cell line (4T1). Based on previous experience of my colleagues, it takes quite a long time (about 40 days or more) for the initially induced tumor to metastasize to other organs .. so as far as I`m concerned, you can study the tumor growth with no concern of metastasis for a promising period in which you can perform your animal studies.
I agree, though it is pretty aggressive in forming primary tumor , it takes long to metastasize, so u can perform ur experiments comfortably within 30 days period.
I haven't had experience with this particular cell line, but have with other metastatic cell lines in orthotopic xenograft models. I would favor this type of model over one that doesn't involve metastasis, for many reasons. For example, if you are wanting to treat the animal with a compound/inhibitor after the tumors have already been established, then the model you are using may be good to see whether that agent can inhibit the growth of both the primary and metastatic tumors. If it does in fact inhibit the growth of metastatic tumors, this would be a great discovery and may be more clinically relevant for advanced breast cancer. Similarly, if you are trying to determine whether knocking down or over-expression of a gene could influence tumor growth, then this model should tell you whether the alteration influences engraftment or tumor growth, irrelvant of metastasis. And, if altering the gene doesn't affect primary tumor growth but does affect metastasis (which has happened in my experiments), then this is also valuable information and you may have found a new promoter or suppressor of metastasis. Win win!
If you go with a mammary fat pad model of 4T1 you will have time ( several weeks) before it metastasizes to other organs to study the effect of drugs on inhibiting/slowing down growth of the primary tumor itself. This will also tell you as Frances suggested if your agent has the capability of slowing down metastases in the long run. Therapeutic intervention of breast cancer metastases is a very important field and understanding the regulation of metastases very relevant.
However, if you want to study metastases separately, which also can be highly valuable, then you can go with the models where when injected via tail vein or heart you can form lung and bone-mets respectively. There are a number of papers that describe these models effectively.
Dear Vidya, Thanks for your reply ... and I will be greatful if you recommend some of these articles to me :)
These are a few and the last one uses the 4T1 model. Hope this is helpful.
Article Inhibition of Growth and Metastasis of Mouse Mammary Carcino...
Article Genes that mediate breast cancer metastasis to lung
Article Kang Y, Siegel PM, Shu W, Drobnjak M, Kakonen SM, Cordon-Car...
Article Targeting the Transforming Growth Factor-?? pathway inhibits...
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