Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
BJU Int. 2010 Oct;106(7):1081-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2010.09245.x. Epub 2010 Mar 1.
To compare the levels of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and progenitors (CEPs) between tumour-bearing mice and healthy controls, in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) xenograft models. The secondary objective was to correlate CEC and CEP levels with tumour variables such as tumour volume, weight and vascularity, indicators of disease severity.
Two human RCC xenograft models were used. Tumour cells were inoculated either subcutaneously or beneath the renal subcapsule (orthotopic). Tumour dimensions were recorded and blood samples were taken throughout the experiment, as well as at the end of the experiment, upon which tumours were excised and prepared for histological examination. All blood samples were analysed by flow cytometry.
CEC and CEP levels were significantly elevated in tumour-bearing mice compared with healthy controls. In particular, there was a divergence in CEC levels between RCC-bearing mice and controls during early phases in disease, whereas CEP levels were only elevated towards the end. Additionally, CEC levels correlated with tumour variables such as tumour volume, when tumour volume was <200 mm³ and with tumour vascularity in certain models. CEP levels did not correlate significantly with most tumour variables examined.
In human RCC xenograft models, CEC levels showed promise as an adjuvant biomarker in evaluating disease burden. RESULTS from correlating CEC levels with tumour variables such as tumour volume, weight and vascularity suggested that CEC levels were a better prognostic indicator during early phases of tumour growth. CEP levels were elevated in tumour-bearing mice compared with controls; however, enumerated numbers were small and require further validation in future studies.
比较荷瘤小鼠与健康对照者循环内皮细胞（CEC）和祖细胞（CEP）水平，在人肾细胞癌（RCC）异种移植模型中。次要目的是将 CEC 和 CEP 水平与肿瘤变量相关联，如肿瘤体积、重量和血管性，这些都是疾病严重程度的指标。
使用了两种人 RCC 异种移植模型。肿瘤细胞分别皮下或肾被膜下接种（原位）。整个实验过程中记录肿瘤尺寸，并采集血液样本，实验结束时也采集，然后切除肿瘤并准备进行组织学检查。所有血液样本均通过流式细胞术分析。
与健康对照者相比，荷瘤小鼠的 CEC 和 CEP 水平显著升高。特别是，在疾病早期，RCC 荷瘤小鼠与对照组之间的 CEC 水平存在差异，而 CEP 水平仅在晚期升高。此外，CEC 水平与肿瘤变量相关，如肿瘤体积，当肿瘤体积<200mm³时，与某些模型中的肿瘤血管性相关。CEP 水平与大多数检查的肿瘤变量无显著相关性。
在人 RCC 异种移植模型中，CEC 水平作为评估疾病负担的辅助生物标志物具有潜力。CEC 水平与肿瘤变量（如肿瘤体积、重量和血管性）相关的结果表明，在肿瘤生长的早期阶段，CEC 水平是更好的预后指标。与对照组相比，荷瘤小鼠的 CEP 水平升高；然而，计数数量较少，需要在未来的研究中进一步验证。
