[Establishment and evaluation of a novel mouse model of orthotopic colon cancer in the mesenteric triangle of the cecum].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of preparation of a mouse model of orthotopic colon cancer by injecting tumor cell suspension into mesenteric triangle of the cecum.

METHODS: Twenty SPF 8-week old BALB/c mice (male:female = 1:1) were used in this study. The mouse caecum was exposed by laparostomy, and suspension of mouse colon adenocarcinoma CT26. WT cells was injected into the mesenteric triangle of cecum for preparation of a mouse model of orthotopic colon cancer.

RESULTS: Mouse orthotopic colon cancer was developed by injection of tumor cell suspension into mesenteric triangle of the cecum showing a successful rate of 100%, without intestinal obstruction, and the liver, spleen, diaphragm and mesenteric lymph nodes metastasis rates were high in all the 20 experimental mice.

CONCLUSIONS: The establishment of mouse models of orthotopic colon cancer by injection of tumor cell suspension into the mesenteric triangle is a simple, rapid, and easy to master procedure, causing less damage to the colon wall, safe and with less trauma to the mice. This method may provide an ideal mouse model of orthotopic colon cancer for the study of pathogenesis as well as liver metastasis mechanisms of colon cancer.