EMT-6 Syngeneic Breast Tumor Model

Discover how Melior’s unique phenotypic screening platforms can uncover the untapped value of your candidate therapeutic

In women, breast cancer is by far the most common form of cancer and the second most lethal. First line treatments include surgery and radiation. For breast cancers that are hormone receptor-positive or HER2-positive (80-85%) there is a wide range of pharmacological approaches to combat the disease. In comparison, for tumor types that are estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 negative (triple negative breast cancer; TNBC) the treatment choices are more limited and the prognosis is more severe. Still, TNBC can be responsive to chemotherapeutic approaches, and to a lesser extent to immunotherapy approaches as with checkpoint inhibition. With its high incidence and significant proportion of tumor types, which are refractory to advanced treatments, there remains a high unmet medical need for improved pharmacological treatments of some types of breast cancer. Melior’s breast cancer models are an important tool geared to support scientists toward this goal.

Melior has established a syngeneic breast cancer mouse model using mouse EMT-6 cells to complement our xenograft breast cancer model which uses the human MCF-7 cell line. EMT-6 is a murine mammary carcinoma derived from a transplanted hyperplastic alveolar nodule from a BALB/c mouse. The syngeneic EMT-6 model is conducted in BALB/c mice and is equally suitable for investigating cytotoxic therapeutic candidates, as well as, immune-modulating agents, such as checkpoint inhibitors.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor and chemotherapy validation of a subcutaneous mouse EMT-6 syngeneic model. The EMT-6 tumor model was created by injecting 1 x106 EMT-6 cells into the rear flank of Balb/c mice. Once the tumor size reached ~150mm3 (Day 7), mice were randomized into groups and treated with vehicle, anti-PD-1 antibody (12.5mg/kg, IP twice per week) or paclitaxel (20 mg/kg, IP once per week). Tumor volume was monitored twice per week using calipers (A). At the end of the study (Day 18), animals were sacrificed, tumors were excised and weighed (B, C). Data area mean ± SEM. n=5/group. Data are mean ±SEM. * P<0.05, ** P<0.01 by Student’s t-test.

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Immune checkpoint inhibitor and chemotherapy validation of an orthotopic mouse EMT-6 syngeneic model. The EMT-6 tumor model was created by injecting 1 x106 EMT-6 cells into the lower right mammary fat pad of Balb/c mice. Once the tumor size reached ~100mm3 (Day 7), mice were randomized into groups and treated with vehicle, anti-PD-1 antibody (12.5mg/kg, IP twice per week) or paclitaxel (20 mg/kg, IP once per week). Tumor volume was monitored twice per week using calipers (A). At the end of the study (Day 18), animals were sacrificed, tumors were excised and weighed (B, C). Data area mean ± SEM. n=5/group. * P<0.05, ** P<0.01 *** P<0.001 by Student’s t-test.

Melior can initiate your EMT-6 tumor model study with very short lead times and with a bespoke study design to suit your needs. Including time to establish tumor-bearing mice (1-2 weeks) and typical treatment times (2 weeks) these studies normally run for approximately 4 weeks. The mouse EMT-6 syngeneic model yields highly reproducible tumor growth curves with small error bars capable of detecting small changes in growth rates with relatively small group sizes.