ATHYMIC ANIMAL and XENOGRAFT CORE FACILITY
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Director: Lili Liu, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Medicine-Hematology/Oncology
lxl32@case.edu
Co-Director: Daniel J. Lindner, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Cancer Biology
lindned@ccf.org
Services
The Athymic Animal & Xenograft Core Facility provides facilities for breeding and housing of athymic nude mice (NCRnu/nu) and rats, and other immunodeficient mice. The core provides pathogen-free facilities for experimentation using immunodeficient animal hosts and normal human cells and human tumor cell xenografts. Core staff maintain and monitor animals housed in the facility, and provide users with a variety of services, including transportation, health reports, animal handling, and experimental procedures. The staff will also train users in animal handling and experimental procedures. Entry to the animal facilities is controlled by key card access and is limited to employees who are listed on an IACUC-approved protocol, have enrolled in an animal contact Occupational Health program, and have completed access training. Experimental procedures, listed below, are provided either at the Case facility or in the Animal Tumor Core (ATC) at the Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Center.
The Taussig Cancer Center ATC was established in 2002 to help principal investigators at the Cleveland Clinic and Case perform tumor experiments, angiogenesis studies, and pharmacokinetic studies in mice. The ATC conducts syngeneic murine tumor experiments, and human xenograft (athymic nude mouse) tumor experiments. In addition, the ATC has developed several orthotopic human carcinoma models: HT-29 colon, HCT-116 colon, SW480 colon (all metastasize to liver), ACHN renal, A549 lung, multiple prostate, bladder, melanoma and ovarian tumors. ATC services utilize murine models to facilitate in vivo cancer drug screening, drug evaluation, and drug development. The core's goal is to help in evaluation of new pharmacologic agents by providing data on tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, and gene expression. The facility also provides consultation services to assist the investigator in all aspects of animal tumor model development.
Resources
- Laminar flow work station.
- Laboratory work room containing two laminar flow hoods and a type B, 100% exhaust biohazard hood to accomodate preparation of cancer cells, anticancer agents, and other pharmaceutical agents.
- Full complement of stainless steel surgical instruments.
- Pass-through autoclave connecting the three animal rooms.
- Steris "super-autoclave" installed adjacent to the facility as a backup.
AAF Manual
Please click here to see the Athymic Animal Facility (AAF) Manual (PDF)
Fees*
Athymic mouse (NCR nu/nu) breeding:
- $21 per male mouse
- $25 per female mouse
- $55 per mouse
- $0.78/cage/day for mice bred in facility
- $0.80/cage/day for mice purchased from outside vendors
- $1.20/cage/day
- $25.00/person/hour
- Tumor Cell Inoculation, Subcutaneous: $2.00 per mouse
- Drug Administration, IP: $1.00 per mouse per day
- Measurement of Tumor Volume: $10.00 per mouse (entire experiment, 2x per week)
- Measurement of Body Weight: $5.00 per mouse per study (entire experiment, 1x per week)
- Tumor Cell Inoculation, Orthotopic: $5.00 per mouse
- Drug Administration: $1.00 per mouse per day for SQ;
$4.00 per mouse per day for IV or slow-release capsule, pump implant - Organ and Tumor Harvest: $5.00 per mouse/organ for formalin fixation;
$7.00 per mouse/organ for liquid nitrogen freezing - Blood Draw: $5.00 per mouse for retro-orbital;
$7.00 per mouse for cardiac puncture - Total Body Radiation (250-500R): $1.00 per mouse
*Posted fees are for members of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Non-members are charged the posted fees plus 30%.
Contact for Further Information
| CASE FACILITY: | TAUSSIG FACILITY: | ||
| Location: | School of Medicine, East B21, 22, 23 Wolstein Research Bldg, SB162 |
Location: | Lerner Research Institute, NC4-12B |
| Director: | Lili Liu, MD, PhD | Director: | Daniel Lindner, MD, PhD |
| Phone: | 216/368-5696 | Phone: | 216/445-0548 |
| Email: | lili.liu@case.edu | Email: | lindned@ccf.org |
| Veterinary Services: | Nanette R. Kleinman, DVM | Core Technician: | Rebecca Shreffler |
| Phone: | 216/368-3169 | Email: | shreffr@ccf.org |
| Email: | nkh@case.edu | ||
| Core Technician: | Pamela Steele | ||
| Phone: | 216/368-3169 | ||
| Email: | pas@case.edu |