1. ¹Department of Pathology, Institute of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
2. ²Genetic Laboratory, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
3. ³State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Correspondence: Professor WP Liu, Department of Pathology, Institute of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxuexiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. E-mail: liuweiping2001@vip.sina.com

Received 29 June 2007; Accepted 8 August 2007; Published online 13 September 2007.

Abstract

A novel nude mice model of human extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma was established by subcutaneously implanting the sample taken from the patient with secondary extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma of the stomach into the right axillary region of a BALB/c (nu/nu) nude mouse. This model had been successfully transplanted in vivo for thirty-two generations with a stable growth cycle. The survival rates of both resuscitation and transplantation were 100%. Histologically, the tumor cells were medium to large size and arranged in sheets, with a little mesenchyma, and disseminated almost in all passages of the lymphoma-bearing nude mice. Immunologically, the tumor cells were positive for CD56, cytoplasmic CD3, granzyme B or TIA-1 and LMP1, sometimes for CD8 but negative for surface CD3, CD7, CD20 and CD1a. EBER1/2 was found. No T-cell receptor gene rearrangement was detected in the transplanted tumors. Furthermore, both human sequencing-tagged sites SY14 and Y chromosome were detected by PCR or fluorescent in situ hybridization, respectively, in the transplanted tumor. The transplanted tumor in this novel nude mice model maintained the essential features of human extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma, and it would be an ideal tool in vivo for further research of the tumor.