4.8. Establishment of Orthotopic Mouse Model of HCC
C57BL/6J mice (male, 4-6 weeks) were subcutaneous injected with 1×107 HEPA 1-6 cells at the armpit of the right anterior limb. After 2-3 weeks, the mice were sacrificed by anaesthetic overdose. The grown tumors were separated and cut into small pieces (1-2 mm3). Then, these pieces of tumor were transplanted to the livers of other healthy mice through surgical operation. To preserve the activity of tumor pieces, surgical operation time should be completed within 30 minutes.