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Table 2 Characteristics of BL tumors in chick and mouse xenograft models compared to the human disease

From: The chick chorioallantoic membrane as an in vivo xenograft model for Burkitt lymphoma

Feature/host

Chick (CAM xenograft)

Mouse ((NOD-) SCID xenograft)

Human

Characteristics of BL tumors

Formation of solid tumors

+[9, 17, 26]

+[27, 28]

+[3]

Lymphogenic dissemination

+[9] (Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6)

+[27]

+[29]

Distant organ metastasis

Not yet reported

+[27]

+[30]

Macrophage infiltration of tumor (‘starry sky’)

+ (Figures 1E, F; 3A)

+[23, 31]

+[32]

Tumor cell morphology

-Blast-like

-Blast-like

- Blast-like

-Basophilic cytoplasm

-Basophilic cytoplasm

- Basophilic cytoplasm

-Lipid vacuoles

-Lipid vacuoles

-Lipid vacuoles

-Prominent nucleoli (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)

-Prominent nucleoli [33]

-Prominent nucleoli [34]

Lymphatic/blood vessel formation

+ [9] (Figure 4B, C)/+[18]

-/+[18]

+[35]/+[36]

Ki67+% of tumor cells

>90% (Figure 1E)

>90% [31]

90-100% [37]

Experimental parameters

Immune status of host

Weakly immunocompetent (developing immune system)

Immunodeficient (depletion of B- and T-cells)

Mature immune system

Investigation period

Max. 8 -9 days

Weeks - months

Weeks - years

Bureaucratic efforts

None*

Medium (Animal experiment)

High (Clinical trial)

Premises

Incubator, Cell culture and imaging devices

Animal facility, Cell culture and imaging devices

Fully equipped hospital and staff

Costs/n

2 $

100 $[38]

−11000 $[39]

  1. *According to German protection of animals act.