Establishment and application of a murine transplant model of bone marrow purging of metastatic breast cancer cells in vitro

To establish a murine transplant model for bone marrow purging of metastatic breast cancer and to explore the efficiency of Econazole (Ec) as a purging agent. Mixtures of TSA /Neo breast cancer cells and murine bone marrow cells were transplanted into lethally irradiated mice following purging with Econazole or saline in vitro. The recipient mice were monitored for hematopoietic engraftment, appearance of metastatic nodules in lungs and the overall survival. All the mice receiving i.v. injection of TSA cells developed metastatic lung nodules. The hematological recovery was not delayed in mice transplanted with Ec purged bone marrow. More importantly, metastatic lung nodules were not seen in Ec treated group and the overall survival was improved. The purged metastatic breast cancer cell bone marrow transplant model was easily established and reproducible. Ec could be used to purge the bone marrow grafts contaminated with breast cancer cells.