Initial Case Reports of Cancer in Naked Mole-rats ( Heterocephalus glaber )

Abstract

Naked mole-rats (NMRs; Heterocephalus glaber) are highly adapted, eusocial rodents renowned for their extreme longevity and resistance to cancer. Because cancer has not been formally described in this species, NMRs have been increasingly utilized as an animal model in aging and cancer research. We previously reported the occurrence of several age-related diseases, including putative pre-neoplastic lesions, in zoo-housed NMR colonies. Here, we report for the first time 2 cases of cancer in zoo-housed NMRs. In Case No. 1, we observed a subcutaneous mass in the axillary region of a 22-year-old male NMR, with histologic, immunohistochemical (pancytokeratin positive, rare p63 immunolabeling, and smooth muscle actin negative), and ultrastructural characteristics of an adenocarcinoma possibly of mammary or salivary origin. In Case No. 2, we observed a densely cellular, poorly demarcated gastric mass of polygonal cells arranged in nests with positive immunolabeling for synaptophysin and chromogranin indicative of a neuroendocrine carcinoma in an approximately 20-year-old male NMR. We also include a brief discussion of other proliferative growths and pre-cancerous lesions diagnosed in 1 zoo colony. Although these case reports do not alter the longstanding observation of cancer resistance, they do raise questions about the scope of cancer resistance and the interpretation of biomedical studies in this model. These reports also highlight the benefit of long-term disease investigations in zoo-housed populations to better understand naturally occurring disease processes in species used as models in biomedical research.

Naked mole-rats (NMRs; Heterocephalus glaber) are a popular species at zoos due to their eusociality and unique appearance. ^1,19 In recent years, the use of NMRs as animal models in aging and cancer research has increased as a result of their demonstrated extreme longevity and apparent resistance to cancer. ^2,3,7,21 We previously surveyed spontaneous histologic lesions in a zoo-housed NMR colony over a 10-year period, ⁶ which revealed several age-related diseases and uncommon pre-cancerous lesions, consistent with their reported cancer resistance. ^2,5,6 However, overt cancer has not been formally documented in NMRs from either zoos or biomedical research facilities. ^2,6 Herein, we describe cancer in 2 NMRs and relate this to our previous findings of proliferative and pre-cancerous lesions found in additional zoo-housed NMRs with a brief discussion of diagnostic criteria of rodent neoplasia in a laboratory setting.

In the first case, a 22-year-old male captive-born worker NMR presented to the zoo veterinary service (Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, IL) for a mass in the right axillary region. The animal was in an established zoo colony and had an otherwise unremarkable clinical history. On physical examination, the animal had a 1.5-cm diameter, mottled dark red-to-purple, firm, and movable subcutaneous mass surrounded by fluctuant material. Aspiration of the mass recovered blood along with a small amount of clear, colorless, tacky fluid. The mass was surgically removed, placed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, and submitted with the cytologic preparations for pathological evaluation. Romanowsky (Diff-Quik) stained impression smears of the aspirated fluid contained numerous individual and variably sized cohesive aggregates of polygonal to round cells with abundant pale basophilic, granular cytoplasm on a background of erythrocytes, and proteinaceous material (Fig. 1). Some cells contained individual or multiple discrete, colorless, cytoplasmic vacuoles (Fig. 1). Histologically, sections were comprised almost exclusively of neoplastic tissue, namely, a densely cellular, multi-nodular neoplasm composed of epithelial cells arranged in variably sized lobules, nests, and rare disorganized acinar-like structures supported by scant fibrovascular stroma and intervening fibrous septa (Fig. 2). Neoplastic cells were cuboidal to polygonal with moderate amounts of pale eosinophilic cytoplasm ranging from granular to globular to foamy (Figs. 3, 4) with distinct cell borders. Nuclei were central and round, with finely dispersed chromatin and 1 to 2 large nucleoli (Figs. 3, 5). Anisocytosis and anisokaryosis were moderate, with infrequent karyomegaly, binucleate cells (Figs. 3, 4), and chromatin clearing interpreted as pseudoinclusions (Fig. 4). Mitoses were generally infrequent (0–1 per 400× field); however, some sections had a high mitotic index (4 per 400× field, Figs. 3a, 4) with bizarre mitotic figures. Throughout the mass, blood vessels were engorged, lined by plump (reactive) endothelium. Scattered throughout the mass were individual necrotic neoplastic cells, low numbers of neutrophils, mild to moderate lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, and hemorrhage with rare erythrophagocytosis. Neoplastic tissue extended to all surgical margins; thus, local invasion could not be determined.

Figures 1–5.

Axillary adenocarcinoma, naked mole-rat. Figure 1. Cytologic impression was moderately cellular with variably sized and overall large epithelial cells predominantly found in cohesive clusters and rafts. Some cells have discrete colorless (arrow) and pale eosinophilic vacuoles. Romanowsky stain. Figure 2. The mass has apparent nodules separated by fibrous septa. HE. Figure 3. (a, b) Neoplastic cells are densely arranged and piled along the fibrous septa. Mitotic rate is overall low, but some areas have a higher mitotic count and bizarre mitoses (a, inset). HE. Neoplastic cells contain variable irregular PAS+ cytoplasmic granules and extracellular material (asterisks, PAS+) within irregular lumens (b). Inset (b): boxed area, note accumulation of purple mucinous material (arrowhead). PAS-AB. Abbreviations: AB, Alcian Blue; PAS, Periodic Acid Schiff. Figure 4. Neoplastic cell characteristics include prominent nucleoli, mitoses, and colorless intranuclear pseudoinclusions (arrow). Plastic section. Figure 5. Neoplastic cells have patchy cytoplasmic immunolabeling for pan-cytokeratin, which is most intense among the basilar cells. Inset: basilar cells have strong nuclear immunolabeling for p63.

The histochemical stains Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) and Alcian Blue (AB) were utilized in attempts to distinguish the cytoplasmic vacuoles of the neoplastic cells. PAS-AB-stained sections of the mass revealed intense PAS positive granular cytoplasmic staining in scattered cells (Fig. 3b) and extracellular accumulation of positive stained mucoid material within the lumens of poorly formed acini. Antibodies against (pan)-cytokeratin (CK; Z0662, rabbit polyclonal, Dako), alpha smooth muscle actin (SMA; ab124964, rabbit monoclonal, Abcam), and p63 (MS-1081-P, mouse monoclonal, Neomarkers) were applied to sections of the mass. Cytokeratin immunostaining yielded patchy cytoplasmic staining in neoplastic cells (Fig. 5) while alpha SMA immunostaining was restricted to cells within the tumor stroma (Supplemental Fig. 1a). In sections stained with antibodies against p63, a marker used for distinguishing basal epithelial and myoepithelial cells in rodent adenocarcinomas, ²⁰ many of the basilar cells in the nodular regions had variably intense nuclear staining with rare immunolabeling of neoplastic cell nuclei within more solid regions of the tumor (inset, Fig. 5 and Supplemental Fig. 2).

Subsamples of the mass were evaluated and imaged using a JEOL JEM 1400 transmission electron microscope. Ultrastructurally, cells had features common to neoplasms such as prominent mitochondria and vesiculated rough endoplasmic reticulum (Fig. 6). ¹⁴ Nuclear findings included aggregation and margination of chromatin and marginated nucleoli (Fig. 6 and data not shown). ¹⁴ Some nuclei contained large electron-lucent pseudoinclusions, as noted on HE and thin sections (Fig. 4). Multifocally, neoplastic cells were bound by intercellular junctions, including tight and gap junctions and desmosomes (Figs. 6, 7), a finding common in normal epithelial cells and carcinomas. ¹⁴ Several characteristics distinguished the mass as an adenocarcinoma: intercellular canaliculi and lumina formed by apices of adjacent cells linked by terminal bars and numerous apical (and intercellular) microvilli and cell projections (Figs. 6, 7). ¹⁴ Based on cytologic, histologic, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural evaluation, the mass was diagnosed as an undifferentiated adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. Mammary or salivary gland origin was considered most likely based on mass location, cytomorphology, and staining characteristics, although metastasis from another neoplasm or poorly differentiated carcinoma could not be ruled out.

Figures 6–7.

Axillary adenocarcinoma, naked mole-rat. Figure 6. Transmission electron micrographs. Neoplastic cells have prominent mitochondria (M), dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum (arrowhead), dispersed ribosomes, intermediate filaments, and a desmosome (arrow; inset, note converging filaments and dense cytoplasmic face). Nuclear (N) heterochromatin is marginalized. Microvilli (asterisk) extend into the intercellular spaces. Scale bar = 1 μm. Figure 7. There are tight junctions (arrows) between adjacent neoplastic cells and low numbers of gap junctions with central electron-dense linear material (inset). Scale bar = 0.5 μm.

Following removal of the mass, the NMR was successfully returned to the colony and has continued to maintain its place in the social structure. Three months postoperatively, there is a small amount of presumed scar tissue at the site of surgical excision but no clinical signs or recurrence of the mass.

The second case of NMR neoplasia came from a different zoological institution (National Zoological Park, Washington, DC). A confirmed 16-year-old, though estimated at least 20-year-old, male captive-born worker NMR was humanely euthanized due to unresolving severe facial dermatitis and progressive weight loss. Upon histologic examination of the stomach, a densely cellular neoplasm was detected, expanding and effacing the gastric submucosa and mucosa (Figs. 8, 9). The mass was composed of neoplastic epithelial cells arranged in tightly packed nests and trabeculae among a fine fibrovascular stroma (Fig. 10). Neoplastic cells were polygonal with small to moderate amounts of finely granular to foamy eosinophilic cytoplasm and variably distinct cell borders (Fig. 11). Nuclei were round to oval with coarse to vesicular chromatin and 1–2 variably apparent nucleoli. Anisokaryosis and anisocytosis were mild with infrequent binucleate cells, karyomegaly, and <1 mitosis per ten 400× fields. Neoplastic cells focally invaded the gastric tunica muscularis, and adjacent thin-walled vessels (likely lymphatics) contained luminal rafts of clumped neoplastic cells; however, no metastases were detected. Scattered throughout the mass were mild lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates. Immunohistochemical staining using antibodies against human synaptophysin (697301, mouse monoclonal, MP Biomedicals) (Fig. 12a) and human chromogranin (CM010B, mouse monoclonal, Biocare Medical) (Fig. 12b) confirmed that the neoplastic cells had neuroendocrine origin; thus, a diagnosis of gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma (carcinoid) was made.

Figures 8–12b.

Gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma, naked mole-rat. Figure 8. The gastric mucosa is expanded by a non-encapsulated, densely cellular neoplasm, which has invaded through the tunica muscularis (arrow). HE. Figure 9. Neoplastic cells expand and infiltrate throughout the mucosa and into the tunica muscularis (TM). HE. Figure 10. Cells are arranged in packets, nests, and trabeculae among a fine fibrovascular stroma. HE. Figure 11. Neoplastic cells are polygonal with distinct cell margins and moderate to large amounts of granular eosinophilic cytoplasm. Nuclei are large with coarse chromatin and 1 to 2 nucleoli. HE. Figure 12. Immunohistochemical staining of the mass with (a) anti-synaptophysin and (b) anti-chromogranin antibodies reveals strong, diffuse cytoplasmic and less intense, diffuse cytoplasmic staining of the neoplastic cells, respectively.

These cases represent the first formal reports of cancer in the NMR, a rodent species best known for its extreme longevity and apparent resilience to typical health span–limiting diseases, including cancer. Our previous investigations of the NMR colony at the Brookfield Zoo found 4 NMRs with lesions considered to be examples of atypical hyperplasia, pre-cancerous changes, or benign neoplasia depending on which diagnostic criteria are followed (Table 1). ^4,6,16,22 In 3 of the 4 cases, NMRs were euthanized due to conspecific bite wounds, a common finding in the Brookfield Zoo colony ⁶ ; thus, these pre-cancerous lesions were incidental. In that study, ⁶ conservative diagnoses were applied to all of these lesions based on their ambiguous morphology and given that no other cases of cancer or pre-cancerous change had been described in NMRs (Table 1). Furthermore, published guidelines developed for laboratory rodents were followed, which include strict criteria for the diagnosis of neoplasia. ^{4,8,10 –13,15,16,18,22} In contrast, the 2 cases in the current report of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma do have features indicative of cancer. For the adenocarcinoma (Case No. 1), questions still remain regarding its histogenesis as well as its eventual impact on the health and life span of the affected NMR. The gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma (Case No. 2) likely contributed to the NMR’s inability to maintain body weight, which was a primary reason for euthanasia.

Table 1.

Pre-Cancerous Lesions in Adult Naked Mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber).

Sex	Cause of Death	Relevant Gross Finding	Lesion Description	Conservative Diagnosis	Potential Diagnosis	References
Female	Euthanasia due to conspecific fight wounds	Splenomegaly with torsion	Expansion and partial effacement of follicular architecture by large pale round cells with scant cytoplasm (centroblasts); rare similar cells are noted in large-caliber renal vessels	Splenic follicular hyperplasia	Splenic lymphoma	11–13, 22
Male	Euthanasia due to clinical decline (anorexia, weight loss, lethargy)	Unilateral testicular enlargement	Unilateral expansion of the testis with attenuation and disruption of the tunica by interstitial (Leydig) cells with multifocal hemorrhage and necrosis	Interstitial cell hyperplasia	Interstitial (Leydig) cell tumor	9, 16, 17
Female	Euthanasia due to conspecific fight wounds	Prominent thymus	Expansion of thymus by numerous small monomorphic lymphocytes with multiple scattered tingible body macrophages	Diffuse thymic cortical hyperplasia	Early lymphocytic thymic lymphoma	8, 11–13, 18, 22
Female	Euthanasia due to conspecific fight wounds	Kidneys grossly within normal limits	Focally, renal tubules exhibit atypia and hyperplasia, forming small nodular proliferations in which small, cuboidal to polygonal epithelial cells are crowded and piling and have loss of apical-basilar polarity	Atypical tubular hyperplasia	Renal adenoma	5, 6, 10, 15

In instances of proliferative lesions in species without established criteria for neoplasia or malignancy, such as NMRs, it is difficult to distinguish benign, pre-cancerous, and malignant processes. ^{4,10 –13,16,22} However, with additional investigation and documentation of these lesions in available populations, a basis for future diagnostic criteria may be defined. NMRs clearly have a very low incidence of cancer when compared to laboratory rodents and other mammal species with similar life spans. However, our report documents for the first time that NMRs are capable of developing cancer. Thus, continued surveillance of zoo- and laboratory-housed NMRs will be prudent to better characterize health and naturally occurring disease states, including neoplasia, in this exquisitely adapted, unique species and valuable animal model.