Comparative analysis of the use of B16 melanoma and epidermoid Lewis lung carcinoma models for preclinical studies of compounds with a putative antitumor effect

Abstract

Introduction The search for new compounds with putative antitumor effects and the development of domestic anticancer and antimetastatic drugs based on them is a priority task for specialists in the field of medical chemistry, experimental pathophysiology and pharmacology. Melanoma B16 and Lewis lung epidermoid carcinoma are universal models for evaluating the effect of compounds with putative antitumor action on the primary focus of tumor growth and the process of tumor cells dissemination.The aim of the work is to determine the feasibility of using models of solid tumor growth and metastasis activity of Lewis lung epidermoid carcinoma and B16 melanoma for preclinical studies of antitumor and antimetastatic pharmacological activity of hybrid organotin compounds depending on experimental objectives.Materials and methods The experimental part was performed on C57B1/6 mice (females). Hybrid organotin compounds were administered five times, intraperitoneal, the beginning of treatment – 48 hours after tumor cells transplantation in the same regimes for both models. In this work, the most effective (375 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, respectively) and toxic (500 mg/kg and 375 mg/kg, respectively) doses of the leader hybrid organotin compounds Me3 (bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenylthiolate) dimethytin) and Me5 ((3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenylthiolate)triphenyltin) were used.Results At all stages of the experiment on both models of tumor growth we obtained similar results characterizing the pharmacological activity of the tested compounds: moderate antitumor and high antimetastatic effect. The rates of growth and tumor process development are comparable and convenient for planning preclinical studies in vivo and can be interchangeable.Discussion The Lewis lung model of epidermoid carcinoma has a higher degree of convenience for data interpretation (number of metastatic foci in the lungs) when conducting exploratory analysis of pharmacological activity in a wide range of doses. When studying pathogenetic peculiarities of metastasis under the action of compounds with presumed antitumor action due to the possibilities of contrast immunohistochemical staining of tumor cells, the B16 melanoma model has an advantage. In our experiment with immunohistochemical staining for Melan A the hematogenic pathway of metastasis through the bloodstream is clearly traced.Conclusion For exploratory screening studies to select promising candidates for in-depth study it is reasonable to use the Lewis lung epidermoid carcinoma model. The B16 melanoma model is more informative for in-depth study of compounds that have proven to be effective.