Objective: To develop a novel immunotherapy model of retinoblastoma (RB) in human PBL non-obese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficient (NOD-SCID) mice, and to investigate its biological features.
Methods: Twenty NOD-SCID mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A, subcutaneous injection of phosphate buffered saline; group B, intraperitoneal injection of human peripheral blood lymphocyte (hu-PBL) for immune reconstruction; group C, subcutaneous injection of SO-RB50 cells and group D, intraperitoneal injection of hu-PBL with subcutaneous injection of SO-RB50 cells. The physical status of NOD-SCID mice and the tumor growth were observed. Human IgG in mouse serum was assayed by ELISA. Human T lymphocytes in murine spleen and peripheral blood were evaluated by flow cytometry. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical studies were also performed.
Results: In groups C and D, the latent period of tumor growth was 12 - 19 days, and the taken rates of RB were 100%. Histological and immunohistochemical results showed that the tumor cells of the two groups retained the characteristics of human low differentiation RB. More interesting, some human lymphocytes stained by human LCA presented in transplanted tumors and murine spleens. Human IgG and T lymphocytes were detected in humanized groups (groups B and D).
Conclusions: The RB model in the human PBL NOD-SCID mice has been successfully established, which simulates the biological behavior of human spontaneous RB. This model may be useful for the studying of immune regression and immunotherapy of human RB.