scholarly journals Applications of the Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane as an Alternative Model for Cancer Studies

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Pei-Yu Chu ◽  
Angele Pei-Fern Koh ◽  
Jane Antony ◽  
Ruby Yun-Ju Huang

A variety of in vivo experimental models have been established for the studies of human cancer using both cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). In order to meet the aspiration of precision medicine, the in vivomurine models have been widely adopted. However, common constraints such as high cost, long duration of experiments, and low engraftment efficiency remained to be resolved. The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is an alternative model to overcome some of these limitations. Here, we provide an overview of the applications of the chick CAM model in the study of oncology. The CAM model has shown significant retention of tumor heterogeneity alongside increased xenograft take rates in several PDX studies. Various imaging techniques and data analysis have been applied to study tumor metastasis, angiogenesis, and therapeutic response to novel agents. Lastly, to practically illustrate the feasibility of utilizing the CAM model, we summarize the general protocol used in a case study utilizing an ovarian cancer PDX.

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Isabel Fraguas-Sánchez ◽  
Cristina Martín-Sabroso ◽  
Ana Isabel Torres-Suárez

Background: The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model has attracted a great deal of interest in pharmaceutical and biological research as an alternative or complementary in vivo assay to animal models. Traditionally, CAM assay has been widely used to perform some toxicological studies, specifically to evaluate the skin, ocular and embryo toxicity of new drugs and formulations, and perform angiogenesis studies. Due to the possibility to generate the tumors onto the CAM, this model has also become an excellent strategy to evaluate the metastatic potential of different tumours and test the efficacy of novel anticancer therapies in vivo. Moreover, in the recent years, its use has considerably grown in other research areas, including the evaluation of new anti-infective agents, the development of biodistribution studies and tissue engineering research. Objectives: This manuscript provides a critical overview of the use of CAM model in pharmaceutical and biological research, especially to test the toxicity of new drugs and formulations and the biodistribution and the efficacy of novel anticancer and anti-infective therapies, analyzing its advantages and disadvantages compared to animal models. Conclusion: The chick chorioallantoic membrane model shows great utility in several research areas, such as cancer, toxicology, biodistribution studies and anti-infective therapies. In fact, it has become an intermediate stage between in vitro experiments and animal studies, and, in the case of toxicological studies (skin and ocular toxicity), has even replaced the animal models.


Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dünker ◽  
Jendrossek

Radiotherapy (RT) is part of standard cancer treatment. Innovations in treatment planning and increased precision in dose delivery have significantly improved the therapeutic gain of radiotherapy but are reaching their limits due to biologic constraints. Thus, a better understanding of the complex local and systemic responses to RT and of the biological mechanisms causing treatment success or failure is required if we aim to define novel targets for biological therapy optimization. Moreover, optimal treatment schedules and prognostic biomarkers have to be defined for assigning patients to the best treatment option. The complexity of the tumor environment and of the radiation response requires extensive in vivo experiments for the validation of such treatments. So far in vivo investigations have mostly been performed in time- and cost-intensive murine models. Here we propose the implementation of the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model as a fast, cost-efficient model for semi high-throughput preclinical in vivo screening of the modulation of the radiation effects by molecularly targeted drugs. This review provides a comprehensive overview on the application spectrum, advantages and limitations of the CAM assay and summarizes current knowledge of its applicability for cancer research with special focus on research in radiation biology and experimental radiation oncology.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 895
Author(s):  
Karunakar Kota ◽  
Sandhya Sharma ◽  
P. Ragavendhra

Background: Angiogenesis is important for the typical physiological activities such as cure from injury, menstrual cycle and embryo growth. It is also plays a crucial role in several pathological conditions in cancer. Antiangiogenesis, e.g., inhibition of blood vessel growth, is being investigated as a way to prevent the growth of tumors and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases. The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is commonly used as an experimental in vivo assay to study both angiogenesis and antiangiogenesis in response to tissues, cells or soluble factors. Given the high occurrence of cancer worldwide and the major source of the discovery of new lead molecules are medicinal plants. The objective of the present research was to study the antiangiogenic property of “aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds” using chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assayMethods: The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay for screening the effect of Nigella sativa on anti-angiogenesis was performed according to the method given by Ribatti and co-workers.Results: The results of present study significantly increased the antiangiogenic effect on CAM by decreasing the proliferation of capillary networks in a dose (50 to 300 µg/egg) dependent manner which is probably related to the inhibition of neovascularization.Conclusions: It is concluded that aqueous extract of N. sativa seeds possesses significant antiangiogenic activity, and this is a possible rationale for its folkloric use as an anticancer agent.


1996 ◽  
Vol 192 (10) ◽  
pp. 1068-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Ribatti ◽  
A. Vacca ◽  
G. Ranieri ◽  
S. Sorino ◽  
L. Roncali

1972 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 401-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAMES R. COLEMAN ◽  
A. RAYMOND TEREPKA

The chorioallantoic membrane of the developing chick embryo is an epithelium that actively transports calcium. The methodology utilized to prepare this soft tissue for calcium localization with the electron probe x-ray microanalyzer is presented in detail. The preparative procedures are evaluated according to general histochemical principles and in relationship specifically to electron probe investigations. It is shown that the method employed in these studies preserves the normal fine structure of the tissue, prevents selective loss of calcium, permits only minor losses of total calcium and appears to maintain the distribution of calcium that existed in vivo. Examples are presented of artifacts that can be induced during tissue sectioning and mounting procedures. Problems of defining electron probe resolution in biologic specimens are discussed, and the critical importance of evaluating x-ray images in association with simultaneously generated sample current images is emphasized.


1988 ◽  
Vol 107 (6) ◽  
pp. 2437-2445 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Ossowski

The ability of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) to withstand invasion by tumor cells can be intentionally compromised by altering its morphological integrity. Using a newly developed quantitative assay of invasion we showed that intact CAMs were completely resistant to invasion by tumor cells, wounded CAMs did not pose a barrier to penetration, and CAMs that were wounded and then allowed to reseal displayed partial susceptibility to invasion. The invasion of resealed CAMs required catalytically active plasminogen activator (PA) of the urokinase type (uPA); the invasive efficiency of tumor cells was reduced by 75% when tumor uPA activity or tumor uPA production was inhibited. The invasive ability of human tumor cells, which have surface uPA receptors but which do not produce the enzyme, could be augmented by saturating their receptors with exogenous uPA. The mere stimulation of either uPA or tissue plasminogen activator production, in absence of binding to cell receptors, did not result in an enhancement of invasiveness. These findings suggest that the increased invasive potential of tumor cells is correlated with cell surface-associated proteolytic activity stemming from the interaction between uPA and its surface receptor.


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