Blood vessel normalization in the hamster oral cancer model for experimental cancer therapy studies

Authors:   Ana Molinari,Romina Aromando,Maria Itoiz,Marcela Garabalino,Andrea Hughes,Elisa Heber,Emiliano Pozzi,David Nigg,Verónica Trivillin,Amanda Schwint
Journal: Anticancer Research
https://www.jstor.org/stable/41408647
Abstract: Background: Normalization of tumor blood vessels improves drug and oxygen delivery to cancer cells. The aim of this study was to develop a technique to normalize blood vessels in the hamster cheek pouch model of oral cancer. Materials and Methods: Tumor-bearing hamsters were treated with thalidomide and were compared with controls. Results: Twenty eight hours after treatment with thalidomide, the blood vessels of premalignant tissue observable in vivo became narrower and less tortuous than those of controls; Evans Blue Dye extravasation in tumor was significantly reduced (indicating a reduction in aberrant tumor vascular hyperpermeability that compromises blood flow), and tumor blood vessel morphology in histological sections, labeled for Factor VIII, revealed a significant reduction in compressive forces. These findings indicated blood vessel normalization with a window of 48 h. Conclusion: The technique developed herein has rendered the hamster oral cancer model amenable to research, with the potential benefit of vascular normalization in head and neck cancer therapy.