Establishment of a Human Hepatoblastoma Model In Athymic Nude Mice

An athymic nude mouse model of human hepatoblastoma, designated HBL 2, was established. HBL 2 produced α -fetoprotein (AFP) and the serum level in tumor-bearing mouse was roughly proportional to the tumor weight. Reactivity of AFP to Concanavalin A and Lens culinaris lectins indicated that it contained predominantly fucosylated, non bisecting N acetylglucosamine as a sugar moiety. Alpha 1 acid glycoprotein (AAG) was also found in both HBL 2 tumor extract and sera of tumor bearing mice. The serum level, however, was not proportional to either the tumor weight or the value of the tumor extract. In addition, fatty acid binding protein (FABP) was detected in approximately 40% of tumor cells and in tumor extract with polyclonal antibody against liver FABP. Thus, HBL 2 is an unique model of human hepatoblastoma, in that it produces FABP in addition to AAG and AFP. Acta Pathol Jpn 42: 255 261, 1992.