Patient-derived Tumor Xenografting: A Technique to Generate Experimental Mouse Model for Evaluating Urothelial Cell Carcinoma

For a patient-derived urothelial cell carcinoma or UCC mouse model generation, an immunocompromised mouse is inoculated with human UCC cells to study cancer progression and metastasis.

To begin xenografting, take an immunocompromised anesthetized female mouse. Shave the lower back of the mouse to expose its pelvic region. Now, place the mouse in the supine position with its exposed skin in contact with a dispersive pad that serves as a grounding electrode to complete the circuit during electrical stimulation.

Next, take an angiocatheter, a thin hollow tube, attached to a guidewire. Lubricate the surface of the catheter and insert it into the mouse's urethra to access its bladder. Place an active electrode on the guidewire to stimulate the bladder wall. This procedure helps rupture the mucopolysaccharide layer, a protective barrier of the bladder mucosa, and aids in the subsequent engraftment of tumor cells.

Now, gently remove the angiocatheter-guidewire assembly from the urethra. Take a second angiocatheter attached to a syringe containing the UCC cell suspension and insert it into the mouse's urethra. Inject the UCC cells into the mouse's bladder. Cancer cells interact with the bladder mucosa to form a tumor that may eventually spread to other tissues and organs.