Name: a genetically engineered mouse model of sporadic colorectal cancer
Uploaded: 2017-07-06T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Sporadic Colorectal Cancer at JoVE.com

This work is dedicated to the memory of Professor Moritz Koch.

The animal experiments presented here were independently reviewed and approved by an institutional and a governmental Animal Care and Use Committee and were conducted according to Federation of Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) guidelines. All possible measures were taken to minimize suffering including anesthesia and analgesia or, if necessary, premature euthanasia.
1. Local Tumor Induction via Surgical Adeno-cre Infection
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of animals for ...

<ol>
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D., Jemal, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cancer+statistics,+2016.">Cancer statistics, 2016.</a> CA Cancer J Clin. 66 (1), 7-30 (2016).</li><li>Weitz, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Colorectal+cancer.">Colorectal cancer.</a> Lancet. 365 (9454), 153-165 (2005).</li><li>Bork, U., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prognostic+relevance+of+minimal+residual+disease+in+colorectal+cancer.">Prognostic relevance of minimal residual disease in colorectal cancer.</a> World J Gastroenterol. 20 (30), 10296-10304 (2014).</li><li>Steinert, G., Sch&#246;lch, S., Koch, M., Weitz, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biology+and+significance+of+circulating+and+disseminated+tumour+cells+in+colorectal+cancer.">Biology and significance of circulating and disseminated tumour cells in colorectal cancer.</a> Langenbecks Arch Surg. 397 (4), 535-542 (2012).</li><li>Garc&#237;a, S. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=LDB1+overexpression+is+a+negative+prognostic+factor+in+colorectal+cancer.">LDB1 overexpression is a negative prognostic factor in colorectal cancer.</a> Oncotarget. 7 (51), 84258-84270 (2016).</li><li>van Noort, V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Novel+Drug+Candidates+for+the+Treatment+of+Metastatic+Colorectal+Cancer+through+Global+Inverse+Gene-Expression+Profiling.">Novel Drug Candidates for the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer through Global Inverse Gene-Expression Profiling.</a> Cancer Res. 74 (20), 5690-5699 (2014).</li><li>Nanduri, L. K., Garc&#237;a, S., Weitz, J., Sch&#246;lch, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+Models+of+Colorectal+Cancer-Derived+Circulating+Tumor+Cells.">Mouse Models of Colorectal Cancer-Derived Circulating Tumor Cells.</a> Med Chem (Los Angeles). 6 (7), 497-499 (2016).</li><li>Taketo, M. M., Edelmann, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+models+of+colon+cancer.">Mouse models of colon cancer.</a> Gastroenterology. 136 (3), 780-798 (2009).</li><li>Sch&#246;lch, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circulating+tumor+cells+exhibit+stem+cell+characteristics+in+an+orthotopic+mouse+model+of+colorectal+cancer.">Circulating tumor cells exhibit stem cell characteristics in an orthotopic mouse model of colorectal cancer.</a> Oncotarget. 7 (19), 27232-27242 (2016).</li><li>Sch&#246;lch, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Radiotherapy+combined+with+TLR7/8+activation+induces+strong+immune+responses+against+gastrointestinal+tumors.">Radiotherapy combined with TLR7/8 activation induces strong immune responses against gastrointestinal tumors.</a> Oncotarget. 6 (7), 4663-4676 (2015).</li><li>Corbett, T. H., Griswold, D. P., Roberts, B. J., Peckham, J. C., Schabel, F. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tumor+induction+relationships+in+development+of+transplantable+cancers+of+the+colon+in+mice+for+chemotherapy+assays,+with+a+note+on+carcinogen+structure.">Tumor induction relationships in development of transplantable cancers of the colon in mice for chemotherapy assays, with a note on carcinogen structure.</a> Cancer Res. 35 (9), 2434-2439 (1975).</li><li>Roper, J., Hung, K. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Priceless+GEMMs:+genetically+engineered+mouse+models+for+colorectal+cancer+drug+development.">Priceless GEMMs: genetically engineered mouse models for colorectal cancer drug development.</a> Trends Pharmacol Sci. 33 (8), 449-455 (2012).</li><li>Hung, K. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+a+mouse+model+for+sporadic+and+metastatic+colon+tumors+and+its+use+in+assessing+drug+treatment.">Development of a mouse model for sporadic and metastatic colon tumors and its use in assessing drug treatment.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 107 (4), 1565-1570 (2010).</li><li>Sharpless, N. E., Depinho, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+mighty+mouse:+genetically+engineered+mouse+models+in+cancer+drug+development.">The mighty mouse: genetically engineered mouse models in cancer drug development.</a> Nat Rev Drug Discov. 5 (9), 741-754 (2006).</li><li>Shibata, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rapid+colorectal+adenoma+formation+initiated+by+conditional+targeting+of+the+Apc+gene.">Rapid colorectal adenoma formation initiated by conditional targeting of the Apc gene.</a> Science. 278 (5335), 120-123 (1997).</li><li>Kuraguchi, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adenomatous+polyposis+coli+(APC)+is+required+for+normal+development+of+skin+and+thymus.">Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is required for normal development of skin and thymus.</a> PLoS Genet. 2 (9), e146 (2006).</li><li>Jackson, E. 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F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+resolution+colonoscopy+in+live+mice.">High resolution colonoscopy in live mice.</a> Nat Protoc. 1 (6), 2900-2904 (2006).</li><li>Moser, A. R., Pitot, H. C., Dove, W. 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While they are generally easy to generate and maintain, classical CRC mouse models based on cell line injection are artificial and are not able to fully recapitulate the human disease. As a consequence, GEMMs have been developed. The first CRC GEMM was the ApcMin mouse, which harbors a heterozygous null mutation in the Apc gene, therefore mimicking the human hereditary disease familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).21 However, ApcMin mice invariably develop multiple intestinal ...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in western countries.1 While the prognosis of patients with early stage disease is good, many tumors are diagnosed at later stages in which, despite numerous treatment options, the prognosis is limited.2,3,4,5
The majority of current mouse models of CRC are based on the implantation of tumor cells derived from cell lines or patient tumors into immunodeficient mice.6,7,8 This leads to local and, depending on the injection site and the tumor cells used for injection, sometimes metastatic tumors.9,10 However, the resulting xenograft models have major limitations. They must be established in immunodeficient mice, thus eliminating the complex interaction between the tumor and the host immune system. In addition, as the tumor stroma is derived from host cells, the interaction between human tumor parenchyma and murine stroma is defective and therefore not representative of the disease. These deficiencies can be avoided by the use of murine cell lines for injection. However, only few murine CRC cell lines are available and, similar to most available human CRC cell lines, are monoclonal and highly anaplastic.11 In summary, most currently available CRC mouse models are highly artificial and not fully representative of the human disease.
Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of CRC can avoid these drawbacks as they feature genuine mouse tumors which are created via induction of key mutations of CRC in the colon.12,13,14 This can be achieved by the activation of conditional (floxed) germline mutations by cre recombinase within the colorectal mucosa. While in GEMMs of many other tumor entities germline (inducible) cre expression driven by tissue-specific promoters is used, germline cre cannot be used in the colon as this leads to a great number of adenomas throughout the colon causing death by benign tumor load at a very young age. Therefore, in the here described model an adenoviral vector expressing cre is used to infect a short colon segment. This leads to the induction of tumorigenesis within this segment of the mucosa at a time point defined by the investigator, resulting in adenomas ultimately progressing to invasive and metastatic carcinoma. The tumors are genuine mouse tumors, grow in an intact microenvironment and are therefore able to simulate the entirety of colorectal oncogenesis including tumor&#8211;host interaction and the metastatic cascade. This model is therefore an attractive platform for studies of cancer biology and preclinical therapeutic trials.
A major disadvantage of genetically engineered mouse models of CRC is their technical complexity. Local cre delivery using rectal adeno-cre enemas in mice carrying floxed Apc alleles has been described before; however, the incidence, multiplicity and location of the intestinal tumors can be highly variable with this technique.15 Therefore, the technique of confining the adeno-cre infection by surgical clamping of the segment to be induced has been developed.13 We have modified this procedure in order to improve animal welfare, as well as reduce mortality and the number of resulting tumors. With this protocol, all labs with experience in small rodent surgery should be able to reproduce the model and to produce tumors which are highly reproducible and easily accessible to colonoscopy. Depending on the conditional mutations used for tumorigenesis, the full spectrum of adenoma, invasive carcinoma and metastases can be observed. As the tumors are located in the distal colon, serial endoscopic assessment is easily possible in this model.

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			<td>Reagents / consumables</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s Phosphate Buffered Saline</td>
			<td>Life Technologies GmbH</td>
			<td>14190169</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin-EDTA (0.25%, Phenol-Red)</td>
			<td>Life Technologies GmbH</td>
			<td>25200072</td>
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		<tr>
			<td>Normal saline 0.9% (E154)</td>
			<td>Serumwerk Bernburg AG</td>
			<td>10013</td>
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			<td>Aqua ad injectabilia</td>
			<td>B. Braun Melsungen AG</td>
			<td>235144</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Ad5CMV-Cre (adenovirus, c = 2E+11 PFU/mL)</td>
			<td>Gene Transfer Vector Core 
			University of Iowa</td>
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			<td>15 mL, 50 mL centrifuge tubes</td>
			<td>Greiner Bio-One GmbH</td>
			<td>188271/227270</td>
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			<td>Eppendorf tubes 1.5 mL/ 2 mL</td>
			<td>Sarstedt AG &#38; Co.</td>
			<td>72,695,400</td>
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			<td>Petri dish PS 100/15 mm (sterile, Nuclon)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific GmbH</td>
			<td>10508921/ NUNC150350</td>
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			<td>1 mL Syringe (without dead volume) - Injekt-F SOLO</td>
			<td>Braun/neoLab</td>
			<td>194291661</td>
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			<td>30G injection needle</td>
			<td>BECTON DICKINSON</td>
			<td>304000</td>
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			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
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			<td>Sevoflurane (Sevoflurane AbbVie)</td>
			<td>AbbVie Germany GmbH &#38; Co. KG</td>
			<td>-</td>
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			<td>Medical oxygen</td>
			<td>Air Liquide Medical GmbH</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Buprenorphine (Temgesic)</td>
			<td>Indivior Eu Ltd.</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Bepanthen - ophthalmic ointment</td>
			<td>Bayer Vital GmbH</td>
			<td>10047757</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Table Top Research Anesthesia Machine x/O2 Flush w/ Sevoflurane Vaporizer</td>
			<td>Parkland Scientific</td>
			<td>V3000PS/PK</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
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			<td>Surgical Equipment</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Cellulose swabs</td>
			<td>Lohmann &#38; Rauscher Deutschland</td>
			<td>13356</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Insulin syringe EMG 1 mL (with 30G cannula)</td>
			<td>B. Braun Melsungen AG</td>
			<td>9161627S</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Fine Bore Tubing (bore: 0.28 mm/ diameter: 0.61mm)</td>
			<td>Smiths Medical Deutschland</td>
			<td>800/100/100</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>Micro-Adson Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11018-12</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Iris Scissor - ToughCut</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>14058-11</td>
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			<td>Olsen-Hegar Needle Holder</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>12002-12</td>
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			<td>AutoClip Kit</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>12020-00</td>
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			<td>PDS Z1012H 6/0 C1 (surgical suture)</td>
			<td>Johnson &#38; Johnson Medical GmbH</td>
			<td>Z1012H</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Curved Micro Serrefine Vascular Clamp</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>18055-05</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fogarty Spring Clips</td>
			<td>Edwards</td>
			<td>CDSAFE 6</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>Hot Plate 062</td>
			<td>Labotect</td>
			<td>13854</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isis - Hair shaver</td>
			<td>Aesculap - Braun</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Colonoscopy</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cold Light Fountain XENON 175 SCB</td>
			<td>Karl Storz</td>
			<td>20132101-1</td>
			<td>Karl Storz Coloview System Mainz</td>
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			<td>Fiber Optic Light Cable</td>
			<td>Karl Storz</td>
			<td>69495NL</td>
			<td>Karl Storz Coloview System Mainz</td>
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			<td>TRICAM Three-Chip Camera Head</td>
			<td>Karl Storz</td>
			<td>20221030</td>
			<td>Karl Storz Coloview System Mainz</td>
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		<tr>
			<td>TRICAM SLII Camera Control Unit</td>
			<td>Karl Storz</td>
			<td>20223011-1</td>
			<td>Karl Storz Coloview System Mainz</td>
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			<td>15&#34; Flat Screen Monitor EndoVue</td>
			<td>Karl Storz</td>
			<td>9415NN</td>
			<td>Karl Storz Coloview System Mainz</td>
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			<td>HOPKINS Straight Forward Telescope 
			diameter 1.9 mm; length 10 cm 
			autoclavable 
			fiber optic light transmission incorporated</td>
			<td>Karl Storz</td>
			<td>64301AA</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Protection and Examination Sheath</td>
			<td>Karl Storz</td>
			<td>61029C</td>
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a genetically engineered mouse model of sporadic colorectal cancer

Despite the advantages of easy applicability and cost-effectiveness, colorectal cancer mouse models based on tumor cell injection have severe limitations and do not accurately simulate tumor biology and tumor cell dissemination. Genetically engineered mouse models have been introduced to overcome these limitations; however, such models are technically demanding, especially in large organs such as the colon in which only a single tumor is desired.
As a result, an immunocompetent, genetically engineered mouse model of colorectal cancer was developed which develops highly uniform tumors and can be used for tumor biology studies as well as therapeutic trials. Tumor development is initiated by surgical, segmental infection of the distal colon with adeno-cre virus in compound conditionally mutant mice. The tumors can be easily detected and monitored via colonoscopy. We here describe the surgical technique of segmental adeno-cre infection of the colon, the surveillance of the tumor via high-resolution colonoscopy and present the resulting colorectal tumors.

If performed adequately, &#62; 85% of the animals develop tumors. The mortality of the here presented surgical procedure is &#60; 5%, mortality of the colonoscopy is virtually non-existent. In the majority of mice, a single lesion is detected; in about 30% 2 - 3 small adenomas can be detected which usually fuse to a single tumor within 2 - 3 weeks after tumor induction.
The phenotype and biological behavior of the resulting tumo...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Sporadic Colorectal Cancer at JoVE.com

A Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Sporadic Colorectal Cancer

A protocol for the establishment of a genetically engineered mouse model of colorectal cancer by segmental adeno-cre infection and its surveillance via high-resolution colonoscopy is presented.

Despite the advantages of easy applicability and cost-effectiveness, colorectal cancer mouse models based on tumor cell injection have severe limitations ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to achieve segmental adeno-cre infection of the colon in a genetically engineered mouse model. This method can help answer key questions in the field of colorectal cancer, or CRC, as it provides an excellent model for studying the biology and treatment of CRC. The main advantage of this technique is that any lab with small rodent surgery experience can use this model to produce highly reproducible and easily accessible colon-localized tumors.Begin by placing an anesthetized mouse in the supine position and apply ointment to the animal's eyes. Tape the mouse in a secure position and then confirm the appropriate level of sedation by toe pinch. Make an approximately 15-millimeter midline incision in the skin of the lower abdomen.Then, use forceps to grasp the abdominal wall musculature and carefully incise the muscle with scissors to open the abdominal cavity. After identifying the distal colon, carefully clinch the tissue with a delicate clamp approximately 15 millimeters proximal to the anus. Next, insert a flexible Teflon tube transanally carefully advancing the tube until it reaches the luminal occlusion.Encannulate the tube with a 30-gauge cannula. Connect a standard one-milliliter syringe to the cannula and flush the colon with several milliliters of normal saline until all of the fecal matter has been evacuated. Once the distal colon is empty, replace the saline tube with a new Teflon tube and use a second clamp to occlude the colon approximately three millimeters distal to the first clamp.Using a second one-milliliter syringe equipped with a 30-gauge cannula, carefully inject 50 to 80 microliters of 0.25%trypsin-EDTA into the clamped colon segment. The colon should inflate enough to break up the mucosal barrier without perforating the clamped tissue segment. After 10 minutes, remove the distal clamp.Then, remove the trypsin tube and flush the distal colon with 500 microliters of normal saline. After inserting a new Teflon tube, clamp the colon again and inflate the tissue with 50 to 80 microliters of the adenoviral solution. After 30 minutes, remove the clamps and the tube and close the abdominal wall with 6-0 rapidly absorbable running sutures.Close the skin with surgical wound clips and monitor the animal on a heating pad until it is fully recovered. To monitor tumor growth via colonoscopy, place the anesthetized tumor-bearing animal in the supine position on a heating pad and transanally insert the endoscope into the intestinal tract. Gently insufflate air under visual control to distend the colon.Then, carefully push the scope forward until a mucosal lesion can be identified in the distal colon saving each endoscopic image as it is acquired for later evaluation. When all of the images have been obtained, slowly remove the endoscope and place the mouse on a 38-degree-Celsius heating pad until fully recovered. The tumors can be easily and repeatedly monitored via colonoscopy without major stress for the animals.The disease manifestations are very similar to the human colorectal cancer with the animals first developing adenomas followed ultimately by adenocarcinoma development in the distal colon. Depending on the conditional genotype of the animals, the tumors also metastasize to the peritoneum and the liver. If a fluorescent cre-reporter allele is used, the tumor manifestations can be easily identified by fluorescent protein expression which depending on the reporter allele, may be bright enough to be visualized in daylight.Histologically, 95%of the developing tumors are adenocarcinomas closely resembling human colorectal cancer and feature the entire spectrum of tumor development from non-invasive adenoma to adenocarcinoma invading the surrounding structures. Once mastered, this technique can be completed in 50 minutes if it's performed properly. While attempting this procedure, it is important to remember to give special attention to the vulnerability of the colon at all times.Perforation inevitably leads to peritonitis and sepsis and requires a termination of the enema. Don't forget that working with adenovirus requires biosafety level two safety measures as the virus can be hazardous.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Cancer Research

Fluorescent Orthotopic Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the cancers for which survival has not improved substantially in the last few decades. Only 7% of diagnosed patients will survive longer than five years. In order to understand and mimic the microenvironment of pancreatic tumors, we utilized a murine orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer that allows non-invasive imaging of tumor progression in real time. Pancreatic cancer cells expressing green fluorescent protein (PANC-1 GFP) were suspended in basement membrane matrix, high concentration, (e.g., Matrigel HC) with serum-free media and then injected into the tail of the pancreas via laparotomy. The cell suspension in the high concentration basement membrane matrix becomes a gel-like substance once it reaches room temperature; therefore, it gels when it comes in contact with the pancreas, creating a seal at the injection site and preventing any cell leakage. Tumor growth and metastasis to other organs are monitored in live animals by using fluorescence. It is critical to use the appropriate filters for excitation and emission of GFP. The steps for the orthotopic implantation are detailed in this article so researchers can easily replicate the procedure in nude mice. The main steps of this protocol are preparation of the cell suspension, surgical implantation, and whole body fluorescent in vivo imaging. This orthotopic model is designed to investigate the efficacy of novel therapeutics on primary and metastatic tumors.

A procedure to implant green fluorescent protein-expressing pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1 GFP) orthotopically into the pancreas of Balb-c Ola Hsd-Fox1nu mice to assess tumor progression and metastasis is presented here.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the cancers for which survival has not improved substantially in the last few decades. Only 7% of diagnosed patients will ...

A Mouse Model of Fatigue Induced by Peripheral Irradiation

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a distressing and costly condition that often affects patients receiving cancer treatments, including radiation therapy. Here we describe a method using targeted peripheral irradiation to induce fatigue-like behavior in mice. With appropriate shielding, the irradiation targets the lower abdominal/pelvic region of the mouse, sparing the brain, in an effort to model radiation treatment received by individuals with pelvic cancers. We deliver an irradiation dose that is sufficient to induce fatigue-like behavior in mice, measured by voluntary wheel-running activity (VWRA), without causing obvious morbidity. Since wheel running is a normal, voluntary behavior in mice, its use should have little confounding effect on other behavioral tests or biological measures. Hence, wheel running can be used as a feasible outcome measure in understanding the behavioral and biological correlates of fatigue. CRF is a complex condition with frequent comorbidities, and likely has causes related both to cancer and its various treatments. The methods described in this paper are useful for investigating radiation-induced changes that contribute to the development of CRF and, more generally, to explore the biological networks that can explain the development and persistence of a peripherally-triggered but centrally-driven behavior like fatigue.

We describe a method using targeted peripheral irradiation to induce fatigue-like behavior in mice. The selected non-lethal irradiation dose leads to a week-long reduction in voluntary wheel-running activity.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a distressing and costly condition that often affects patients receiving cancer treatments, including radiation therapy. ...

Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Colorectal Cancer

Despite the advantages of easy applicability and cost-effectiveness, subcutaneous mouse models have severe limitations and do not accurately simulate tumor biology and tumor cell dissemination. Orthotopic mouse models have been introduced to overcome these limitations; however, such models are technically demanding, especially in hollow organs such as the large bowel. In order to produce uniform tumors which reliably grow and metastasize, standardized techniques of tumor cell preparation and injection are critical. 
We have developed an orthotopic mouse model of colorectal cancer (CRC) which develops highly uniform tumors and can be used for tumor biology studies as well as therapeutic trials. Tumor cells from either primary tumors, 2-dimensional (2D) cell lines or 3-dimensional (3D) organoids are injected into the cecum and, depending on the metastatic potential of the injected tumor cells, form highly metastatic tumors. In addition, CTCs can be found regularly. We here describe the technique of tumor cell preparation from both 2D cell lines and 3D organoids as well as primary tumor tissue, the surgical and injection techniques as well as the isolation of CTCs from the tumor-bearing mice, and present tips for troubleshooting.

We describe the establishment of orthotopic colorectal tumors via injection of tumor cells or organoids into the cecum of mice and the subsequent isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from this model.

Despite the advantages of easy applicability and cost-effectiveness, subcutaneous mouse models have severe limitations and do not accurately simulate ...

Utilizing High Resolution Ultrasound to Monitor Tumor Onset and Growth in Genetically Engineered Pancreatic Cancer Models

The LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53R172H/+; Pdx-1-Cre (KPC) mouse model represents an established and frequently used transgenic model to evaluate novel therapies in pancreatic cancer. Tumor onset is variable in the KPC model between 8 weeks and several months. Therefore, non-invasive imaging tools are required to screen for tumor onset and monitor for response to treatment. To address this issue, different approaches have emerged over the last years. High resolution ultrasound has major advantages such as non-invasiveness, fast session times and a high image resolution without radiation exposure. However, ultrasound in mice is not trivial and sufficient anatomical knowledge and practical skills are required to successfully perform high resolution ultrasound in preclinical pancreatic cancer models. With the following article, a detailed hands-on guide for abdominal ultrasound in murine models with a particular focus on endogenous pancreatic cancer models is presented. Furthermore, a summary of common mistakes and how to avoid them is provided.

This article describes the utilization of high-resolution ultrasound in genetically engineered pancreatic cancer mice. The primary aim is to provide a detailed instruction for detection and evaluation of endogenous pancreatic tumors.

The LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53R172H/+; Pdx-1-Cre (KPC) mouse model represents an established and frequently used transgenic model to evaluate novel ...

Detection of a Circulating MicroRNA Custom Panel in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

There is increasing interest in liquid biopsy for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic monitoring, creating the need for reliable and useful biomarkers for clinical practice. Here, we present a protocol to extract, reverse transcribe and evaluate the expression levels of circulating miRNAs from plasma samples of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs of 18-25 nucleotides in length that regulate the expression of target genes at the translational level and play an important role, including that of pro- and anti-angiogenic function, in the physiopathology of various organs. miRNAs are stable in biological fluids such as serum and plasma, which renders them ideal circulating biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment decision-making and monitoring. Circulating miRNA extraction was performed using a rapid and effective method that involves both organic and column-based methodologies. For miRNA retrotranscription, we used a multi-step procedure that considers polyadenylation at 3&#39; and the ligation of an adapter at 5&#39; of the mature miRNAs, followed by random miRNA pre-amplification. We selected a 24-miRNA custom panel to be tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and spotted the miRNA probes on array custom plates. We performed qRT-PCR plate runs on a real-time PCR System. Housekeeping miRNAs for normalization were selected using GeNorm software (v. 3.2). Data were analyzed using Expression suite software (v 1.1) and statistical analyses were performed. The method proved to be reliable and technically robust and could be useful to evaluate biomarker levels in liquid samples such as plasma and/or serum.

We present a protocol to evaluate the expression levels of circulating microRNA (miRNAs) in plasma samples from cancer patients. In particular, we used a commercially available kit for circulating miRNA extraction and reverse transcription. Finally, we analyzed a panel of 24 selected miRNAs using real-time pre-spotted probe custom plates.

There is increasing interest in liquid biopsy for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic monitoring, creating the need for reliable and useful ...

In Vitro Establishment of a Genetically Engineered Murine Head and Neck Cancer Cell Line using an Adeno-Associated Virus-Cas9 System

The use of primary normal epithelial cells makes it possible to reproducibly induce genomic alterations required for cellular transformation by introducing specific mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, using clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based genome editing technology in mice. This technology allows us to accurately mimic the genetic changes that occur in human cancers using mice. By genetically transforming murine primary cells, we can better study cancer development, progression, treatment, and diagnosis. In this study, we used Cre-inducible Cas9 mouse tongue epithelial cells to enable genome editing using adeno-associated virus (AAV) in vitro. Specifically, by altering KRAS, p53, and APC in normal tongue epithelial cells, we generated a murine head and neck cancer (HNC) cell line in vitro,which is tumorigenic in syngeneic mice. The method presented here describes in detail how to generate HNC cell lines with specific genomic alterations and explains their suitability for predicting tumor progression in syngeneic mice. We envision that this promising method will be informative and useful to study tumor biology and therapy of HNC.

Development of murine models with specific genes mutated in head and neck cancer patients is required for understanding of neoplasia. Here, we present a protocol for in vitro transformation of primary murine tongue cells using an adeno-associated virus-Cas9 system to generate murine HNC cell lines with specific genomic alterations.

The use of primary normal epithelial cells makes it possible to reproducibly induce genomic alterations required for cellular transformation by ...

Establishing a Competing Risk Regression Nomogram Model for Survival Data

The Kaplan&#8211;Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression model are the most common analyses in the survival framework. These are relatively easy to apply and interpret and can be depicted visually. However, when competing events (e.g., cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents, treatment-related deaths, traffic accidents) are present, the standard survival methods should be applied with caution, and real-world data cannot be correctly interpreted. It may be desirable to distinguish different kinds of events that may lead to the failure and treat them differently in the analysis. Here, the methods focus on using the competing regression model to identify significant prognostic factors or risk factors when competing events are present. Additionally, nomograms based on a proportional hazard regression model and a competing regression model are established to help clinicians make individual assessments and risk stratifications in order to explain the impact of controversial factors on prognosis.

Presented here is a protocol to build nomograms based on the Cox proportional hazards regression model and competing risk regression model. The competing method is a more rational method to apply when competing events are present in the survival analysis.

The Kaplan&#8211;Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression model are the most common analyses in the survival framework. These are relatively ...

Analysis of Lymph Node Volume by Ultra-High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging in the Braf/Pten Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Melanoma

Tyr::CreER+,BrafCA/+,Ptenlox/lox&#160;genetically engineered mice (Braf/Pten mice) are widely used as an in vivo model of metastatic melanoma. Once a primary tumor has been induced by tamoxifen treatment, an increase in metastatic burden is observed within 4-6 weeks after induction. This paper shows how Ultra-High-Frequency UltraSound (UHFUS) imaging can be exploited to monitor the increase in metastatic involvement of the inguinal lymph nodes by measuring the increase in their volume.
The UHFUS system is used to scan anesthetized mice with a UHFUS linear probe (22-55 MHz, axial resolution 40 &#181;m). B-mode images from the inguinal lymph nodes (both left and right sides) are acquired in a short-axis view, positioning the animals in dorsal recumbency. Ultrasound records are acquired using a 44 &#181;m step size on a motorized mechanical arm. Afterward, two-dimensional (2D) B-mode acquisitions are imported into the software platform for ultrasound image post-processing, and inguinal lymph nodes are identified and segmented semi-automatically in the acquired cross-sectional 2D images. Finally, a total reconstruction of the three-dimensional (3D) volume is automatically obtained along with the rendering of the lymph node volume, which is also expressed as an absolute measurement.
This non-invasive in vivo technique is very well tolerated and allows the scheduling of multiple imaging sessions on the same experimental animal over 2 weeks. It is, therefore, ideal to assess the impact of pharmacological treatment on metastatic disease.

Melanoma is a very aggressive disease that quickly spreads to other organs. This protocol describes the application of ultra-high-frequency ultrasound imaging, coupled with 3D rendering, to monitor the volume of the inguinal lymph nodes in the Braf/Pten mouse model of metastatic melanoma.

Tyr::CreER+,BrafCA/+,Ptenlox/lox&#160;genetically engineered mice (Braf/Pten mice) are widely used as an in vivo model of metastatic melanoma. Once a ...

Portal Vein Injection of Colorectal Cancer Organoids to Study the Liver Metastasis Stroma

Hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a major component of the tumor microenvironment, play a crucial role in metastatic CRC progression and predict poor patient prognosis. However, there is a lack of satisfactory mouse models to study the crosstalk between metastatic cancer cells and CAFs. Here, we present a method to investigate how liver metastasis progression is regulated by the metastatic niche and possibly could be restrained by stroma-directed therapy. Portal vein injection of CRC organoids generated a desmoplastic reaction, which faithfully recapitulated the fibroblast-rich histology of human CRC liver metastases. This model was tissue-specific with a higher tumor burden in the liver when compared to an intra-splenic injection model, simplifying mouse survival analyses. By injecting luciferase-expressing tumor organoids, tumor growth kinetics could be monitored by in vivo imaging. Moreover, this preclinical model provides a useful platform to assess the efficacy of therapeutics targeting the tumor mesenchyme. We describe methods to examine whether adeno-associated virus-mediated delivery of a tumor-inhibiting stromal gene to hepatocytes could remodel the tumor microenvironment and improve mouse survival. This approach enables the development and assessment of novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit hepatic metastasis of CRC.

Portal vein injection of colorectal cancer (CRC) organoids generates stroma-rich liver metastasis. This mouse model of CRC hepatic metastasis represents a useful tool to study tumor-stroma interactions and develop novel stroma-directed therapeutics such as adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapies.

Hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a major component of the ...

Molecular and Immunologic Techniques in a Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common human sarcoma and is typically driven by a single mutation in the KIT receptor. Across tumor types, numerous mouse models have been developed in order to investigate the next generation of cancer therapies. However, in GIST, most in vivo studies use xenograft mouse models which have inherent limitations. Here, we describe an immunocompetent, genetically engineered mouse model of gastrointestinal stromal tumor harboring a KitV558&#916;/+ mutation. In this model, mutant KIT, the oncogene responsible for most GISTs, is driven by its endogenous promoter leading to a GIST which mimics the histological appearance and immune infiltrate seen in human GISTs. Furthermore, this model has been used successfully to investigate both targeted molecular and immune therapies. Here, we describe the breeding and maintenance of a KitV558&#916;/+ mouse colony. Additionally, this paper details the treatment and procurement of GIST, draining mesenteric lymph node, and adjacent cecum in KitV558&#916;/+ mice, as well as sample preparation for molecular and immunologic analyses.

The goal of this manuscript is to describe the KitV558&#916;/+&#160;mouse model and techniques for successful dissection and processing of mouse specimens.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common human sarcoma and is typically driven by a single mutation in the KIT receptor. Across tumor ...