A novel syngeneic murine model for thoracic neuroblastoma obtained by intramediastinal injection of tumor cells

In this study, a new syngeneic murine neuroblastoma (NB) model resembling stage 3 NB with thoracic localization has been set up by intramediastinal injection of tumor cells. Two NB cell lines, the murine Neuro2a, and the hybrid NXS2, have been injected in A/J mice. In vivo tumor growth and dissemination have been assessed by macroscopic and microscopic histological analysis performed at different times post injection. Tumor cell localization and growth patterns were compared to those obtained by i.v. and r.p. injections. The results indicated that in the thoracic model both tumor cell lines grow rapidly as huge tumor masses but do not metastatize to distant organs. This new model may be relevant for testing the efficacy of novel immunotherapeutic strategies for poor prognosis NB patients with localized disease.