Biomaterial Database

Hypercalcemic VX-2 carcinoma in rabbits: a clinicopathologic study. 1976

D M Young, and J L Fioravanti, and D J Prieur, and J M Ward

Rabbits receiving intramuscular injections of VX-2 carcinoma cells in biceps femoris muscles developed rapidly progressive neoplastic growths at 14 to 21 days associated with a significant hypercalcemia. The biologic behavior of the VX-2 carcinoma was characterized by local infiltration and metastases to regional lymph nodes and lungs. No metastases to skeletal tissues were evident. Femora from intramuscularly injected rabbits had varying degrees of osteophytosis and lysis evident roentgenographically. Histopathologic evaluation of femoral sections revealed periosteal new bone growth, cortical osteolysis, endosteal new bone growth, and in a few long term rabbits, pathologic fractures. Bone lesions were evident histologically in the vicinity of neoplastic growth (i.e., femora, tibiae) but not at distant sites (i.e., humeri and vertebrae). Mineral analyses of VX-2 carcinoma tissues and kidneys from VX-2-bearing rabbits revealed concentrations of calcium 83 and 3 times greater, respectively, than those of skeletal muscle and kidneys from controls. These findings correlated well with histochemical evidence of excessive amounts of calcium in sections of kidneys and VX-2 carcinoma tissues. Rabbits receiving intraperitoneal injections of VX-2 carcinoma cells did not develop hypercalcemia despite an extensive, progressive neoplastic burden with metastases to abdominal and thoracic viscera. Roentgenographic, histopathologic, and physiochemical analyses of selected bones from these rabbits revealed no significant alterations. These findings indicate that VX-2 carcinoma cells need to be in close proximity to skeletal tissues in order to induce hypercalcemia. The development of a significant hypercalcemia in intramuscularly injected rabbits precedes the invasion of osseous tissues by VX-2 carcinoma cells. Therefore, it appears that VX-2 carcinoma cells have the ability to alter skeletal morphology and physiochemistry through a dual humoral/cellular mechanism. The clinicopathologic characteristics of the VX-2 carcinoma in the rabbit suggest that the neoplasm is a good experimental model to study osseous-mediated hypercalcemia of malignancy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008207	Lymphatic Metastasis	Transfer of a neoplasm from its primary site to lymph nodes or to distant parts of the body by way of the lymphatic system.	Lymph Node Metastasis,Lymph Node Metastases,Lymphatic Metastases,Metastasis, Lymph Node
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D009362	Neoplasm Metastasis	The transfer of a neoplasm from one organ or part of the body to another remote from the primary site.	Metastase,Metastasis,Metastases, Neoplasm,Metastasis, Neoplasm,Neoplasm Metastases,Metastases
D009368	Neoplasm Transplantation	Experimental transplantation of neoplasms in laboratory animals for research purposes.	Transplantation, Neoplasm,Neoplasm Transplantations,Transplantations, Neoplasm
D009374	Neoplasms, Experimental	Experimentally induced new abnormal growth of TISSUES in animals to provide models for studying human neoplasms.	Experimental Neoplasms,Experimental Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Experimental
D011817	Rabbits	A burrowing plant-eating mammal with hind limbs that are longer than its fore limbs. It belongs to the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, and in contrast to hares, possesses 22 instead of 24 pairs of chromosomes.	Belgian Hare,New Zealand Rabbit,New Zealand Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbit,Rabbit,Rabbit, Domestic,Chinchilla Rabbits,NZW Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus,Chinchilla Rabbit,Domestic Rabbit,Domestic Rabbits,Hare, Belgian,NZW Rabbit,Rabbit, Chinchilla,Rabbit, NZW,Rabbit, New Zealand,Rabbits, Chinchilla,Rabbits, Domestic,Rabbits, NZW,Rabbits, New Zealand,Zealand Rabbit, New,Zealand Rabbits, New,cuniculus, Oryctolagus
D011859	Radiography	Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-RAYS or GAMMA RAYS, recording the image on a sensitized surface (such as photographic film).	Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray,Roentgenography,X-Ray, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X-Ray,Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology,X-Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X Ray,Diagnostic X Ray Radiology,Diagnostic X-Rays,Radiology, Diagnostic X Ray,X Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,X Ray, Diagnostic,X-Rays, Diagnostic
D001859	Bone Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer located in bone tissue or specific BONES.	Bone Cancer,Cancer of Bone,Cancer of the Bone,Neoplasms, Bone,Bone Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Bone
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D005269	Femur	The longest and largest bone of the skeleton, it is situated between the hip and the knee.	Trochanter,Greater Trochanter,Lesser Trochanter,Femurs,Greater Trochanters,Lesser Trochanters,Trochanter, Greater,Trochanter, Lesser,Trochanters,Trochanters, Greater,Trochanters, Lesser