Establishment of C6 brain glioma models through stereotactic technique for laser interstitial thermotherapy research

OBJECTIVE: To establish C6 brain glioma models using stereotactic technique, and to study effects of laser interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) in rat models of glioma. METHODS: C6 glioma cells were cultured in dulbecco's minimum essential medium (DMEM) cell culture medium. The in vitro C6 cell cultures were stereotaxically implanted into the right caudate nucleus of rat brain. Presence of tumor was confirmed with Factor VIII R, hematoxylin–eosin stain, staining of glial fibrillary acid protein, and S-100 immunohistochemistry. After magnetic resonance (MR) scanning and correction of tumor location, the models were divided into groups according to the treating time and laser power (2–10 W). Semiconductor laser optical fibers were inserted in tumors for LITT. Cortex's temperature conducted from the center target was measured using infrared thermograph, and deep-tissue temperature around the target was measured using a thermocouple. RESULTS: Rat C6 gliomas were inoculated with optimized stereotactic technique. These gliomas resembled human glioma in terms of histopathological features. Such models are more reliable and reproducible, with 100% yield of intracranial tumor and no extracranial growth extension. The difference between cortex temperature conducted from center target and deep-tissue temperature around target was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The rat C6 brain glioma model established in the study was a perfect model to study LITT of glioma. Infrared thermograph technique measured temperature conveniently and effectively. The technique is noninvasive, and the obtained data could be further processed using software used in LITT research. To measure deep-tissue temperature, combining thermocouple with infrared thermograph technique would present better results.