Xenograft Mouse Models of AML

Xenograft mouse models were generated as previously described (13 (link)). Female 8–12-week-old NSG mice (Jackson Laboratories stock number: 005557; Bar Harbor, ME) were intravenously injected with 1×10⁶ MOLM13-Luc+ or MOLM13-RES-Luc+ cells. Weekly tumor engraftment was assessed by bioluminescence imaging. Mice were randomized to treatment groups based on leukemia burden. Drug treatments were started on days 7 or 13 post-tail vein injection (TVI) of MOLM13 and MOLM13-RES, respectively. Gilteritinib was formulated in 0.5% methylcellulose (Sigma-Aldrich), and administered at 30 mg/kg once daily for 5 days/week for 3 weeks. Mice were observed daily and euthanized when showing signs of progressive disease including hind limb paralysis, weight loss of more than 20%, and/or lethargy. At study endpoint, bone marrow was harvested, and enriched for AML using MACS (Milteny Biotec) separation of CD45+ cells. All animal studies were approved by the OSU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.