Subcutaneous xenograft tumor models

Mouse subcutaneous tumor xenografts were established as described in a previous report¹⁵. After the tumor volumes reached ~200 mm³, the mice were divided into two groups: the tumor growth monitoring and prolonged survival evaluation groups. Each group was randomized into 4 subgroups and administered the following treatments: vehicle, 30 mg/kg/day sorafenib, 3 mg/kg/day prazosin, or both treatments. For tumor growth monitoring, tumor dimensions and volumes were measured and recorded, after which the mice were euthanized¹⁵. The endpoint for prolonged survival was set as either death or a tumor volume reaching 2000 mm³, following which the mice were euthanized³³. Prolonged survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method³³. The tumor burden of all the mice in the two independent sets of experiments followed the restriction of an average tumor diameter of no more than 20 mm (volume < 4000 mm³). All animal studies followed the guidelines of the Institutional Laboratory Animal Care and Use Committee of National Taiwan University.