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Development and Characterization of an Isolated and Perfused Tumor and Skin Preparation for Evaluation of Drug Disposition¹

Cutaneous Pharmacology and Toxicology Center [S. L. V., J. E. R.] and the Departments of Anatomy, Physiological Sciences, and Radiology [J. M. C., B. P. P.] and Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine [R. L. P.], North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606

The purpose of this study was to develop a model in which the regional pharmacokinetics of a drug in tumor and nontumorous tissue could be evaluated under a variety of physiological conditions. To this effect, the growth of a human choriocarcinoma cell line (JAR) was evaluated in pigs immunosuppressed with 25 mg cyclosporine/kg every 24 h. During an initial study, we demonstrated that suspensions containing approximately 3 million JAR cells with and without 1 million normal human fibroblasts injected s.c. into the inguinal region of pigs resulted in the growth of tumors consisting primarily of polygonal neoplastic cells. Multinucleate tumor cells, inflammatory cells, necrotic debris, and vascular endothelial cells were also present. Maximal tumor size was noted on day 12, after which time tumor regression occurred. The coinoculation of fibroblasts resulted in significantly larger tumors. Two single pedicle, axial pattern tubed flaps were created in the inguinal area of 4 pigs. JAR cells and fibroblasts were transplanted to one flap to allow for tumor formation. The other flap served as a nontumorous control. Both flaps were removed for perfusion with a physiological solution 11 days later. Glucose utilization, lactate concentrations, lactate dehydrogenase activities, and microscopic evaluation of skin samples were used to assess flap viability. All flaps remained viable for 8 h of perfusion. The only differences detected between nontumorous and tumor flaps was the initial perfusion pressure which was significantly lower in tumor flaps (P < 0.05). The isolated perfused tumor and skin flap is unique in that it consists of a tumor surrounded by normal tissue with an intact microvascular system and can be utilized to design regional pharmacokinetic studies describing drug distribution in tumor tissue.

¹ This work was supported in part by Grants 08822 and 43745 from the National Cancer Institute. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official news of the National Cancer Institute. This work was accomplished in partial fulfillment for the requirements of the Ph.D. degree for S. L. V.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 7/22/92. Accepted 10/20/92.