Xenograft Model of Breast Cancer in Nude Mice

Animal procedures were performed in accordance with the guidelines and regulations set forth by the Canadian Council on Animal Care and approved by the University of Alberta Health Sciences 2 Animal Care and Use Committee (Protocol # AUP00000386). 3 × 10⁶ cells were injected into the left mammary gland (#4) of nude mice (CrTac:NCr-Foxn1^nu, Taconic) in 100 μl of a 1:1 matrigel/media mix. RPMI 1640 medium with no supplemental serum or antibiotic and Corning® Matrigel® Basement Membrane Matrix was used. Docetaxel (10 mg/kg) was administered via intraperitoneal injection on days as indicated. Animals were monitored weekly and sacrificed when tumors reached 20 mm in diameter. Tumors were collected and tumor volume (mm³) was calculated with the formula of (length × width × height)/2. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed as previously described^{7 (link)}.