Mouse Cancer Model

(Protocol for an orthotopic esophageal cancer model in mouse)


Materials:

1. A surgical scissor, forceps
2. 70% ethanol wipes and Betadine swabs
3. An autoclip wound applier and stainless-steel autoclips
4. Q-tips
5. 27- or 30-gauge needles
6. A 1-cc syringe
7. Tumor cells


Anesthetics:

Methoxyflurane

Methods:

Esophagus starts from the pharynx cranially and ends to the stomach caudally in the abdominal cavity, courses ventrally to the vertebral bodies and dorsally to the trachea and deviates slightly to the left of the median plane.

1. Anesthetize a nude mouse with methoxyflurane inhalation.
2. Place the mouse on its back.
3. Scrub the abdomen wall with Betadine followed by alcohol.
4. Incise the skin and peritoneum along the upper midline for about 2 cm. Exteriorize the stomach to expose the abdominal part of the esophagus. Stabilize it gently.
5. Insert a 27- or 30-gauge needle on a 1-cc syringe into the wall of the esophagus.
6. Inject 10 µl of the material slowly. A visible pale wheal indicates a successful injection.
7. Retract the needle.
8. Place a Q-tip over the injection site for about 30 seconds to prevent bleeding and spillage of material.
9. Return the stomach to the peritoneum and close the abdominal wall with wound clip in one layer.
10. Keep mice warm until complete recovery. Mice kept at room temperature are easy to die before complete recovery.