A rat model of palatal mucosa carcinoma induced by 4-nitroquinolinel-oxide water solution

Aim:To establish a rat model for palatal mucosa carcinoma and precancerous lesions that is histologically and pathologically comparable to the human counterpart.Methods: 0.5% 4NQO solution was applied to the rat's palate mucosa once two days,and the animals were observed until the 28th week.The rats were killed and their palatal mucosas were biopsied for pathological analyses.Results: Gross changes included leukoplakia,erythroplakia appearances,papillary hyperplasia and invasive carcinoma of the palatal mucosa of experimental group rats during carcinogenesis.The palate lesions had undergone a classical progress of squamous cell carcinoma including simple epithelial hyperplasia,dysplasia,in situ carcinoma and invasive cancer.The incidence of palate cancer in rats treated with 4NQO for 16 weeks,20 weeks,24 weeks,and 28 weeks was 0,11.1%,44.4% and 100%,respectively.No metastases were found.Conclusion:4NQO can reliably induce rat palatal preneoplastic lesions,carcinoma of the rat palatal mucosa.The process of carcinogenesis and the biological behavior parallel to those of human oral carcinoma.The target organ is typical,and the method is handy.This model is simple,convenient,stable and repeatable as an ideal animal model of oral cancer.