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Altogen Labs validated Melanoma Xenograft animal models:
A2058, A375, B16, SK-MEL-2, LOX-IMV1, A431, SKMEL28
Melanoma, or malignant melanoma, is a cancer that develops from melanocytes, which produce pigment in the skin (but can rarely occur in the eye, intestines or mouth). Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread quickly to other parts of the body. Ongoing research is focused on improving our understanding of the biology of melanoma, developing new diagnostic tools, and improving oncology treatments. Symptoms of melanoma include a mole that increases in size, has irregular edges, changes in color, or itchiness and skin breakdown. The sun and tanning devices (ultraviolent light exposure) is known to cause melanoma and risk factors include family history, a large number of moles and poor immune function. Diagnosis is typically done via initial visual identification with a dermatoscope followed by tissue biopsy to confirm. Lactate dehydrogenase tests are often done to screen for metastasis, and the presence of S-100 and HBM-45 are also signs of primary melanoma or metastasis. Types of melanomas include lentigo maligna, lentigo maligna melanoma, superficial spreading melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma, mucosal melanoma, nodular melanoma, polypoid melanoma and desmoplastic melanoma among others. Treatment is often limited by surgery (excisional biopsies) and as melanomas typically spread to lymph nodes before other sides a lymphadenectomy or fine-needle aspiration may also be performed. Lymphoscintigraphy can be performed to localize sentinel nodes. For more advanced cases of melanoma, isolated limb infusion (ILI) of chemotherapy has been found to be successful for treating regional melanomas. Targeted therapies (BRAF, C-Kit and MEF inhibitors such as trametinib, vemurafenib, dabrafenib), immunotherapies (against cytokines, or anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibodies such as ipilimumab and tremelimumab, TLR agonists, PD-1 antibodies, CD40 agonists, etc.) and radiotherapies are also used. Localized melanomas have a nearly 100% 5-year survival rate and are typically caught at an early enough stage however once regional or distant advanced melanomas develop (especially with lymph node metastasis) prognosis is much poorer. The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is a marker that improves prognosis.
Using xenograft models of melanoma is a powerful research tool, and there are several models of melanoma to choose from. There are links above to some of the most common tissue culture models that Altogen Labs has available, summarized in the table below. Models are often selected based on morphology, genetics, histology, early vs. late stage phenotype, invasive/aggressive properties, and abnormal protein expressions. The goal of xenografts and murine models is to mirror human pathology and disease as closely as possible so that accurate insights into cellular events are achieved. This aspect is particularly critical with preclinical drug testing for accurately evaluating compound efficacy.
| Cell Line | Characteristics |
| A2058 | · Human malignant melanoma line from a lymph node metastasis· Expresses nerve growth factor (NGF) and laminin· Used for elevated pERK and pAKT studies |
| A375 | · Epithelial human malignant melanoma· Used for studying skin infections, and BRAF and BCL-2 inhibitors· Hypotriploid karyotype |
| B16 | · Murine melanoma cell line (C57BL/6)· Used to screen anti-proliferation therapies such as simvastin and paclitaxel· Epithelial-like and spindle shaped cells |
| MEL-2 | · Human epithelial cells from the thigh of of a malignant melanoma patient· Expresses wild-type B-Raf and mutant N-Ras· Polygonal morphology |
| A431 | · Epithelial human cell line from an epidermoid carcinoma patient· Overexpresses EGFR· No functional p53
· Hypertriploid karyotype |
| LOX-1MV1 |
|
| SKMEL28 | ● Human epithelial polygonal malignant melanoma● Hypotetraploid complex karyotype
● Expresses antigens consistent with Blood type A (Rh, HLA A11, B40, A26 and DRw4) ● Expresses mutant B-Raf and wildtype N-Ras |
Xenotransplantation studies have been a backbone of oncology research for four decades, and provide an effective research and evaluation environment for novel pharmaceutical compounds. Typically, these studies involve the implantation of tumorigenic human cell lines into immunocompromised mice, providing scientists with an in vivo model of tumor behavior in which to perform experiments including screening of novel cancer therapies, studies of cell behavior, and examination of metastasis. Patient-derived xenografts are a fundamental part of in vivo pharmacological research, aiding in the translation from benchtop to bedside.
Altogen Labs is one of the leading biology contract research organization (CRO) based in Austin, Texas. Altogen Labs provides years of expert research in xenograft experiments taking advantage of the comprehensive expertise the company has developed in the use of human tumor xenografts for research and clinical purposes. Altogen Labs offers a complete suite of laboratory services, including:
- xenotransplantation study design
- selection of appropriate cancer model/cell line
- host animal selection
- subcutaneous or orthotopic xenografting
- daily observation of experimental subjects
- post-experiment analysis, including serum collection and histology