Bomirski Ab Melanoma as a Model of Tumor-Induced Cachexia

A family of Bomirski melanomas in hamsters is derived from a spontaneous melanoma of the skin which originated in 1959. Since that time the tumor has been maintained by serial passage in Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus Waterhouse). During over 30 years of transplantation some tumors developed different properties and gave rise to distinct descendants of the parental melanoma [1]. Currently, the family consists of five variants with varying rates of tumor growth, localization of metastases, time of appearance, melanin and tyrosinase content, and chromosome number. The Ab amelanotic melanoma variant is the most malignant one. Its mean transplantation interval is 10 days, and the mean survival time of tumor-bearing animals is 21 days. Metastases are present in every autopsied animal, most frequently in the kidneys, lungs, and lymph nodes [1, 2].