Name: pre-clinical orthotopic murine model of human prostate cancer
Uploaded: 2016-08-29T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Pre-clinical Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer at JoVE.com

We thank Dr. Roger Erickson for his support and assistance with the preparation of the manuscript. This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health through grant numbers RO1CA160079, RO1CA138642, UO1CA184966 and VA funded program project number 1P1 BX001604.

Protocols for all procedures involving animals must be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Follow officially approved procedures for the care and use of laboratory animals. Intra-prostatic injection requires open-abdominal surgery and animals should be kept in a pathogen-free environment with a designated surgery room where proper surgical aseptic techniques are used during the entire procedure.
1. Preparation of Cells for Implantation
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E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pre-clinical+mouse+models+of+human+prostate+cancer+and+their+utility+in+drug+discovery.">Pre-clinical mouse models of human prostate cancer and their utility in drug discovery.</a> Curr Protoc Pharmacol. Chapter 14, Unit 14.15 (2010).</li><li>Johnson, L. C., 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=Longitudinal+live+animal+micro-CT+allows+for+quantitative+analysis+of+tumor-induced+bone+destruction.">Longitudinal live animal micro-CT allows for quantitative analysis of tumor-induced bone destruction.</a> Bone. 48 (1), 141-151 (2011).</li><li>Steinbauer, 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=GFP-transfected+tumor+cells+are+useful+in+examining+early+metastasis+in+vivo,+but+immune+reaction+precludes+long-term+tumor+development+studies+in+immunocompetent+mice.">GFP-transfected tumor cells are useful in examining early metastasis in vivo, but immune reaction precludes long-term tumor development studies in immunocompetent mice.</a> Clin Exp Metastasis. 20 (2), 135-141 (2003).</li><li>Yang, 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=A+fluorescent+orthotopic+bone+metastasis+model+of+human+prostate+cancer.">A fluorescent orthotopic bone metastasis model of human prostate cancer.</a> Cancer Res. 59 (4), 781-786 (1999).</li><li>Stephenson, R. 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=Metastatic+model+for+human+prostate+cancer+using+orthotopic+implantation+in+nude+mice.">Metastatic model for human prostate cancer using orthotopic implantation in nude mice.</a> J Natl Cancer Inst. 84 (12), 951-957 (1992).</li><li>Hoffman, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Orthotopic+metastatic+mouse+models+for+anticancer+drug+discovery+and+evaluation:+a+bridge+to+the+clinic.">Orthotopic metastatic mouse models for anticancer drug discovery and evaluation: a bridge to the clinic.</a> Invest New Drugs. 17 (4), 343-359 (1999).</li><li>Wang, X., An, Z., Geller, J., Hoffman, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-malignancy+orthotopic+nude+mouse+model+of+human+prostate+cancer+LNCaP.">High-malignancy orthotopic nude mouse model of human prostate cancer LNCaP.</a> Prostate. 39 (3), 182-186 (1999).</li><li>An, Z., Wang, X., Geller, J., Moossa, A. R., Hoffman, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Surgical+orthotopic+implantation+allows+high+lung+and+lymph+node+metastatic+expression+of+human+prostate+carcinoma+cell+line+PC-3+in+nude+mice.">Surgical orthotopic implantation allows high lung and lymph node metastatic expression of human prostate carcinoma cell line PC-3 in nude mice.</a> Prostate. 34 (3), 169-174 (1998).</li><li>Kim, S. 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This manuscript describes a detailed procedure for establishing a human orthotopic prostate cancer xenograft mouse model. This model was established by direct implantation of the human prostate cancer cell line PC3M-Luc-C6 into the dorsal prostatic lobes of immunocompromised mice. Tumors were allowed to develop over the course of the experiment. Tumor growth was monitored weekly by a non-invasive bioluminescence imaging system during the experiment.
The most important factor in establishing xe...

Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent cause of cancer deaths (9%) among males in the United States, next to cancer of the lung and bronchus (28%)1. According to recent data, it is estimated that 220, 800 newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases and 27, 540 deaths will occur in 20151. The five year relative survival rate of early stage prostate cancer is &#62;99% while that of advanced metastatic disease is only 28%1. A major challenge for treatment of advanced metastatic disease is the lack of understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the propensity of this disease to metastasize to other organs, particularly to the bone, which is a frequent site for prostate cancer. Hence, there is a clear need to study the molecular makeup of these prostate tumors in order to develop effective therapeutic regimens against progression to advanced metastatic disease2,3.
Prostate tumors exhibit high biological heterogeneity without a well-defined pathway to progression. Metastases often occur with no prior indication of tumor invasiveness4. This clinical heterogeneity is attributed to the molecular diversity of prostate cancer. Understanding the molecular makeup of these lethal tumors is the key to design better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this disease. Consequently, prostate cancer research is currently focused on understanding and preventing metastasis.
Pre-clinical in vivo mouse models offer a variety of options to understand the molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer progression to advanced metastatic disease. In addition, these models are important for preclinical evaluations of new therapeutic strategies against this disease. The most commonly used animal models include transgenic mouse models, tail-vein injection, intra-cardiac implantation and human orthotopic mouse models. Transgenic studies are time consuming and correlation of prostate cancer development in mice with that of humans have shown variability11. In spontaneous metastatic mouse models, cells are injected directly into the circulation and though, they have rapid turnaround time, they cannot be used to study the primary tumor or the initial steps in the metastatic cascade5. Orthotopic xenograft models have the limitation of developing bone metastatic lesions, the common site of prostate cancer metastasis. Nonetheless, the human orthotopic prostate cancer xenograft mouse model is well characterized and widely used to study the molecular events of primary tumor development, cross-talk between tumor and organ microenvironment, initial phase of the metastatic disease and use of experimental drugs for therapeutic intervention6,7,8-11.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="732">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:229px;">PC3 prostate cancer cell line&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:188px;">ATCC</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">CRL-1435</td>
			<td style="width:204px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Minimum Essential Medium (MEM)&#160;</td>
			<td>GIBCO,Life Technology</td>
			<td>11095-080</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PBS</td>
			<td>GIBCO,Life Technology</td>
			<td>10010-023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">FBS</td>
			<td>GIBCO,Life Technology</td>
			<td>10437-028</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Zeocin</td>
			<td>Invitrogen,Life Technology</td>
			<td>R250-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Trypsin&#160;</td>
			<td>GIBCO,Life Technology</td>
			<td>25300-54</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">IVIS&#160;</td>
			<td>Xenogen-Caliper</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Insulin Syringes (300ul, 28.5g)</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td>309300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Mice</td>
			<td>Charles River Laboratories, Inc</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Alcohol Swabs</td>
			<td>MEDEquip Depot</td>
			<td>326895 BD</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PVP Iodine Prep Pad</td>
			<td>MEDEquip Depot</td>
			<td>C12400PDI</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Surgical CatGut Chromic Suture</td>
			<td>Demetech</td>
			<td>CC224017F0P</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Matrigel</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>354248</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

pre-clinical orthotopic murine model of human prostate cancer

To study the multifaceted biology of prostate cancer, pre-clinical in vivo models offer a range of options to uncover critical biological information about this disease. The human orthotopic prostate cancer xenograft mouse model provides a useful alternative approach for understanding the specific interactions between genetically and molecularly altered tumor cells, their organ microenvironment, and for evaluation of efficacy of therapeutic regimens. This is a well characterized model designed to study the molecular events of primary tumor development and it recapitulates the early events in the metastatic cascade prior to embolism and entry of tumor cells into the circulation. Thus it allows elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying the initial phase of metastatic disease. In addition, this model can annotate drug targets of clinical relevance and is a valuable tool to study prostate cancer progression. In this manuscript we describe a detailed procedure to establish a human orthotopic prostate cancer xenograft mouse model.

Following orthotopic implantation of PC3M-Luc-C6 cells into the posterior prostatic lobe, mice were weekly imaged by using a live animal bioluminescence imaging system to monitor the colonization of cells and tumor growth over the course of experiment (Figure 5A-B). Quantification of the bioluminescent signal indicated that PC3M-Luc-C6 cells successfully colonized the prostate lobes. Increased bioluminescence is indicative of increased primary tumor growt...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Pre-clinical Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer at JoVE.com

Pre-clinical Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. An orthotopic cancer model provides a useful approach to understand the biology of prostate cancer and to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic regimens. This protocol describes detailed steps necessary to establish an orthotopic prostate cancer mouse model.

To study the multifaceted biology of prostate cancer, pre-clinical in vivo models offer a range of options to uncover critical biological information ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to establish a mouse orthotopic prostate cancer xenograft model that provides a useful approach to studying the molecular events of primary tumor development in the early events of the metastatic cascade. This model can help answer key questions regarding the spastic interactions between genetically and molecularly altered tumor cells in the micro-environment of the growing tumor. It can also help in the pre-clinical evaluation of new therapeutic approaches against the human prostate cancer.The main advantage of this technique over the spontaneous metastatic models are that it promotes the study of the molecular events of primary tumor development and also the recapitulation of the initial phase of metastasis prior to entry and embolism of tumor cells into the circulation. Orthotopic model of prostate cancer is one of the best pre-clinical models to understand how prostate cancer cells metastasize to different organs. Most prostate cancer patients die of metastasis, and therefore this model is very important to investigate the molecular mechanisms of metastasis.Using this model we can design better strategies for the treatment of metastasis by using neural compounds, those are specific to metastatic pathways. Demonstrating this procedure will be Melissa Colden, a grad student and Dr.Varahram Shahryari, a research associate from our laboratory. Before beginning the procedure, wash the tumor cell culture of interest with PBS and incubate the cells with 2 milliliters of 05 percent trypsin for 3 to 5 minutes in the cell culture incubator.When the cells have detached, stop the reaction with 5 milliliters of complete medium and count the cells by trypan blue exclusion. Dilute the cells to a 2.5 times 10 to the 5 cells per 10 microliters of medium concentration, and mix the cell suspension with 10 microliters of basement membrane-like extracellular matrix extract. Hold the cells on ice, then place an anesthetized six to eight week old immunocompromised male experimental mouse in the supine position on a sterile heating pad and confirm a lack of response to toe pinch.Apply ointment to the animals eyes and remove the hair from the lower abdomen. Disinfect the surgical area with 10 percent povidone iodine scrub, followed by 70 percent ethanol about 1 to 2 centimeters above the penis sheath, and about 2 to 3 centimeters below the bottom of the rib cage. Use a pair of fine forceps to lift 2 millimeters of skin above the preputial gland.Using a scalpel, make a 1 centimeter mid-line incision through the skin, followed by a 1 centimeter incision through the muscle layer. Locate the yellow, light brown spherical bladder directly below the incision. Then use the fine forceps to grip the bladder and to lift the organ up and out of the body cavity toward the penis sheath to expose the seminal vesicles.With a wet cotton swab in each hand, carefully externalize the vesicles one at a time, and lay them top down on the outer surface of the abdomen with the bladder in the middle. Next, use the cotton swabs to gently tilt back the seminal vesicles at the point of insertion near the bladder neck towards the penis sheath so that the two dorsal prostate lobes are clearly visible. Now use a micro-pipette to re-suspend the cells in a single-cell suspension and label them with luciferin.Aspirate 25 microliters of the cells into a 0.5 cc syringe equipped with a 28.5 gauge needle and transfer the mouse under a dissecting microscope. Then, insert the syringe needle into a dorsal prostatic lobe and slowly inject 20 microliters of the cell suspension until a bulla formation is observed. When all of the cells have been administered, retract the needle, pressing lightly on the injection site with a cotton swab for a few seconds to prevent leakage.Then use the swabs to carefully return the vesicles to the body cavity one at a time, followed by the bladder. After placing the organs back into the body cavity, suture the muscle layer first in an interrupted pattern with absorbable 4-0 chromic cat gut sutures, followed by the skin closure with non-absorbable 4-0 nylon surgical sutures. The skin can also be pulled together and closed with surgical clamps to close the incision completely.Then, immediately image the animal, and return the mouse to a clean cage under a warming lamp with monitoring until it is fully recovered. Following the orthotopic implantation of luciferin-labeled prostate cancer cells into the posterior prostatic lobe, as just demonstrated, weekly imaging using live animal bioluminescence imaging reveals a successful colonization of the prostate lobes by the tumor cells. Indeed, an increase in the bioluminescence over time is indicative of the enlargement of the primary tumor over the course of the experiment, confirming the effectiveness of this technique in non-invasive, radiographic, fluorescent or luminescent imaging for tumor growth and metastatic lesion monitoring.While attempting this procedure, it is important to remember that intra-prostatic injection requires open abdominal surgery. So, it should be performed in a pathogen-free environment using proper aseptic surgical techniques. Working with human cancer cells can be extremely hazardous and precautions, such as wearing personal protective equipment, and working within biosafety level two containment should always be taken while performing this procedure.This model paved the way for the transplant of histologically intact tumor fragments to examine the effects of potential drug therapies on tumor growth or original lymph node metastasis. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to implant cancer cells into the dorsal prostatic lobes for the establishment of an orthotopic human prostate cancer xenograft mouse model.

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An Orthotopic Model of Murine Bladder Cancer

In this straightforward procedure, bladder tumors are established in female C57 mice through the use of catheterization, local cauterization, and subsequent cell adhesion. After their bladders are transurethrally catheterized and drained, animals are again catheterized to permit insertion of a platinum wire into bladders without damaging the urethra or bladder. The catheters are made of Teflon to serve as an insulator for the wire, which will conduct electrical current into the bladder to create a burn injury. An electrocautery unit is used to deliver 2.5W to the exposed end of the wire, burning away extracellular layers and providing attachment sites for carcinoma cells that are delivered in suspension to the bladder through a subsequent catheterization. Cells remain in the bladder for 90 minutes, after which the catheters are removed and the bladders allowed to drain naturally. The development of tumor is monitored via ultrasound. Specific attention is paid to the catheterization technique in the accompanying video.

Bladder tumors are established in female mice in a minimally invasive fashion through catheterization, local cauterization, and subsequent adhesion of carcinoma cells to the burn sites.

In this straightforward procedure, bladder tumors are established in female C57 mice through the use of catheterization, local cauterization, and ...

Combination Radiotherapy in an Orthotopic Mouse Brain Tumor Model

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are the most common and aggressive adult primary brain tumors1. In recent years there has been substantial progress in the understanding of the mechanics of tumor invasion, and direct intracerebral inoculation of tumor provides the opportunity of observing the invasive process in a physiologically appropriate environment2. As far as human brain tumors are concerned, the orthotopic models currently available are established either by stereotaxic injection of cell suspensions or implantation of a solid piece of tumor through a complicated craniotomy procedure3. In our technique we harvest cells from tissue culture to create a cell suspension used to implant directly into the brain. The duration of the surgery is approximately 30 minutes, and as the mouse needs to be in a constant surgical plane, an injectable anesthetic is used. The mouse is placed in a stereotaxic jig made by Stoetling (figure 1). After the surgical area is cleaned and prepared, an incision is made; and the bregma is located to determine the location of the craniotomy. The location of the craniotomy is 2 mm to the right and 1 mm rostral to the bregma. The depth is 3 mm from the surface of the skull, and cells are injected at a rate of 2 &mu;l every 2 minutes. The skin is sutured with 5-0 PDS, and the mouse is allowed to wake up on a heating pad. From our experience, depending on the cell line, treatment can take place from 7-10 days after surgery. Drug delivery is dependent on the drug composition. For radiation treatment the mice are anesthetized, and put into a custom made jig. Lead covers the mouse's body and exposes only the brain of the mouse. The study of tumorigenesis and the evaluation of new therapies for GBM require accurate and reproducible brain tumor animal models. Thus we use this orthotopic brain model to study the interaction of the microenvironment of the brain and the tumor, to test the effectiveness of different therapeutic agents with and without radiation.

The purpose of this article is to describe the use of an orthotopic glioblastoma model for chemoradiation studies. This article will go though cell processing, implanting, and radiotherapy of the mouse using an intracranial model.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are the most common and aggressive adult primary brain tumors1. In recent years there has been substantial progress in the ...

Development of Obliterative Bronchiolitis in a Murine Model of Orthotopic Lung Transplantation

Orthotopic lung transplantation in rats was first reported by Asimacopoulos and colleagues in 1971 1. Currently, this method is well accepted and standardized not only for the study of allo-rejection but also between syngeneic strains for examining mechanisms of ischemia-reperfusion injury after lung transplantation. Although the application of the rat and other large animal model 2 contributed significantly to the elucidation of these studies, the scope of those investigations is limited by the scarcity of knockout and transgenic rats. Due to no effective therapies for obliterative bronchiolitis, the leading cause of death in lung transplant patients, there has been an intensive search for pre-clinical models that replicate obliterative bronchiolitis. The tracheal allograft model is the most widely used and may reproduce some of the histopathologic features of obliterative bronchiolitis 3. However, the lack of an intact vasculature with no connection to the recipient's conducting airways, and incomplete pathologic features of obliterative bronchiolitis limit the utility of this model 4. Unlike transplantation of other solid organs, vascularized mouse lung transplants have only recently been reported by Okazaki and colleagues for the first time in 2007 5. Applying the basic principles of the rat lung transplant, our lab initiated the obliterative bronchiolitis model using minor histoincompatible antigen murine orthotopic single-left lung transplants which allows the further study of obliterative bronchiolitis immunopathogenesis6.

Obliterative bronchiolitis is the key impediment to the long-term survival of lung transplant recipients and the lack of a robust preclinical model precludes examining obliterative bronchiolitis immunopathogenesis. Unlike other solid organ transplants, vascularized mouse lung transplantation has only recently been developed. Here we show our independently developed obliterative bronchiolitis model after murine orthotopic single-lung transplantation.

Orthotopic lung transplantation in rats was first reported by Asimacopoulos and colleagues in 1971 1. Currently, this method is well accepted and ...

An Orthotopic Bladder Cancer Model for Gene Delivery Studies

Bladder cancer is the second most common cancer of the urogenital tract and novel therapeutic approaches that can reduce recurrence and progression are needed. The tumor microenvironment can significantly influence tumor development and therapy response. It is therefore often desirable to grow tumor cells in the organ from which they originated. This protocol describes an orthotopic model of bladder cancer, in which MB49 murine bladder carcinoma cells are instilled into the bladder via catheterization. Successful tumor cell implantation in this model requires disruption of the protective glycosaminoglycan layer, which can be accomplished by physical or chemical means. In our protocol the bladder is treated with trypsin prior to cell instillation. Catheterization of the bladder can also be used to deliver therapeutics once the tumors are established. This protocol describes the delivery of an adenoviral construct that expresses a luciferase reporter gene. While our protocol has been optimized for short-term studies and focuses on gene delivery, the methodology of mouse bladder catheterization has broad applications.

Implantation of cancer cells into the organ of origin can serve as a useful preclinical model to evaluate novel therapies. MB49 bladder carcinoma cells can be grown within the bladder following intravesical instillation. This protocol demonstrates catheterization of the mouse bladder for the purpose of tumor implantation and adenoviral delivery.

Bladder cancer is the second most common cancer of the urogenital tract and novel therapeutic approaches that can reduce recurrence and progression are ...

Formation of Human Prostate Epithelium Using Tissue Recombination of Rodent Urogenital Sinus Mesenchyme and Human Stem Cells

Progress in prostate cancer research is severely limited by the availability of human-derived and hormone-na&iuml;ve model systems, which limit our ability to understand genetic and molecular events underlying prostate disease initiation. Toward developing better model systems for studying human prostate carcinogenesis, we and others have taken advantage of the unique pro-prostatic inductive potential of embryonic rodent prostate stroma, termed urogenital sinus mesenchyme (UGSM). When recombined with certain pluripotent cell populations such as embryonic stem cells, UGSM induces the formation of normal human prostate epithelia in a testosterone-dependent manner. Such a human model system can be used to investigate and experimentally test the ability of candidate prostate cancer susceptibility genes at an accelerated pace compared to typical rodent transgenic studies. Since Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be genetically modified in culture using inducible gene expression or siRNA knock-down vectors prior to tissue recombination, such a model facilitates testing the functional consequences of genes, or combinations of genes, which are thought to promote or prevent carcinogenesis.
The technique of isolating pure populations of UGSM cells, however, is challenging and learning often requires someone with previous expertise to personally teach. Moreover, inoculation of cell mixtures under the renal capsule of an immunocompromised host can be technically challenging. Here we outline and illustrate proper isolation of UGSM from rodent embryos and renal capsule implantation of tissue mixtures to form human prostate epithelium. Such an approach, at its current stage, requires in vivo xenografting of embryonic stem cells; future applications could potentially include in vitro gland formation or the use of induced pluripotent stem cell populations (iPSCs).

To unravel the earliest molecular mechanisms underlying prostate cancer initiation, novel and innovative human model systems and approaches are desperately needed. The potential of pre-prostatic urogenital sinus mesenchyme (UGSM) to induce pluripotent stem cell populations to form human prostate epithelium is a powerful experimental tool in prostate research.

Progress in prostate cancer research is severely  limited by the availability of human-derived and hormone-na&iuml;ve model systems,  which limit our ...

Bioluminescent Orthotopic Model of Pancreatic Cancer Progression

Pancreatic cancer has an extremely poor five-year survival rate of 4-6%. New therapeutic options are critically needed and depend on improved understanding of pancreatic cancer biology. To better understand the interaction of cancer cells with the pancreatic microenvironment, we demonstrate an orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer that permits non-invasive monitoring of cancer progression. Luciferase-tagged pancreatic cancer cells are resuspended in Matrigel and delivered into the pancreatic tail during laparotomy. Matrigel solidifies at body temperature to prevent leakage of cancer cells during injection. Primary tumor growth and metastasis to distant organs are monitored following injection of the luciferase substrate luciferin, using in vivo imaging of bioluminescence emission from the cancer cells. In vivo imaging also may be used to track primary tumor recurrence after resection. This orthotopic model is suited to both syngeneic and xenograft models and may be used in pre-clinical trials to investigate the impact of novel anti-cancer therapeutics on the growth of the primary pancreatic tumor and metastasis.

Improved understanding of pancreatic cancer biology is critically needed to enable the development of better therapeutic options to treat pancreatic cancer. To address this need, we demonstrate an orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer that permits non-invasive monitoring of cancer progression using in vivo bioluminescence imaging.

Pancreatic cancer has an extremely poor five-year survival rate of 4-6%.  New therapeutic options are critically needed and depend on improved ...

An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis

Our laboratory has developed a novel orthotopic implantation model of human prostate cancer (PCa). As PCa death is not due to the primary tumor, but rather the formation of distinct metastasis, the ability to effectively model this progression pre-clinically is of high value. In this model, cells are directly implanted into the ventral lobe of the prostate in Balb/c athymic mice, and allowed to progress for 4-6 weeks. At experiment termination, several distinct endpoints can be measured, such as size and molecular characterization of the primary tumor, the presence and quantification of circulating tumor cells in the blood and bone marrow, and formation of metastasis to the lung. In addition to a variety of endpoints, this model provides a picture of a cells ability to invade and escape the primary organ, enter and survive in the circulatory system, and implant and grow in a secondary site. This model has been used effectively to measure metastatic response to both changes in protein expression as well as to response to small molecule therapeutics, in a short turnaround time.

This orthotopic model of human prostate cancer allows for quantification of tumor size, circulating tumor cells, and formation of distinct metastasis to the lung. As cells must escape the primary organ, enter the blood stream, and implant into a secondary site, this model effectively recapitulates the scenario in humans.

Our laboratory has developed a novel orthotopic implantation model of  human prostate cancer (PCa). As PCa death is not due to the primary tumor, but  ...

Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells From Human Prostate Cancer Samples

The cancer stem cell (CSC) model has been considerably revisited over the last two decades. During this time CSCs have been identified and directly isolated from human tissues and serially propagated in immunodeficient mice, typically through antibody labeling of subpopulations of cells and fractionation by flow cytometry. However, the unique clinical features of prostate cancer have considerably limited the study of prostate CSCs from fresh human tumor samples. We recently reported the isolation of prostate CSCs directly from human tissues by virtue of their HLA class I (HLAI)-negative phenotype. Prostate cancer cells are harvested from surgical specimens and mechanically dissociated. A cell suspension is generated and labeled with fluorescently conjugated HLAI and stromal antibodies. Subpopulations of HLAI-negative cells are finally isolated using a flow cytometer. The principal limitation of this protocol is the frequently microscopic and multifocal nature of primary cancer in prostatectomy specimens. Nonetheless, isolated live prostate CSCs are suitable for molecular characterization and functional validation by transplantation in immunodeficient mice.

The isolation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) directly from human tissues is requisite for their biological characterization. This manuscript describes a methodology for the isolation of prostate CSCs from human tissues, while also providing tips on troubleshooting difficult steps.

The cancer stem cell (CSC) model has been considerably revisited over the last two decades. During this time CSCs have been identified and directly ...

Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of an Orthotopic Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Model

Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) has been limitedly used for orthotopic pancreatic tumor xenografts due to severe respiratory motion artifact in the abdominal area. Orthotopic tumor models offer advantages over subcutaneous ones, because those can reflect the primary tumor microenvironment affecting blood supply, neovascularization, and tumor cell invasion. We have recently established a protocol of DCE-MRI of orthotopic pancreatic tumor xenografts in mouse models by securing tumors with an orthogonally bent plastic board to prevent motion transfer from the chest region during imaging. The pressure by this board was localized on the abdominal area, and has not resulted in respiratory difficulty of the animals. This article demonstrates the detailed procedure of orthotopic pancreatic tumor modeling using small animals and DCE-MRI of the tumor xenografts. Quantification method of pharmacokinetic parameters in DCE-MRI is also introduced. The procedure described in this article will assist investigators to apply DCE-MRI for orthotopic gastrointestinal cancer mouse models.

The goal of this protocol is to apply dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for orthotopic pancreatic tumor xenografts in mice. DCE-MRI is a non-invasive method to analyze microvasculature in a target tissue, and useful to assess vascular response in a tumor following a novel therapy.

Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) has been limitedly used for orthotopic pancreatic tumor xenografts due to severe ...

An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Spontaneous Breast Cancer Metastasis

Metastasis is the primary cause of mortality of breast cancer patients. The mechanism underlying cancer cell metastasis, including breast cancer metastasis, is largely unknown and is a focus in cancer research. Various breast cancer spontaneous metastasis mouse models have been established. Here, we report a simplified procedure to establish orthotopic transplanted breast cancer primary tumor and resultant spontaneous metastasis that mimic human breast cancer metastasis. Combined with the bioluminescence live tumor imaging, this mouse model allows tumor growth and progression kinetics to be monitored and quantified. In this model, a low dose (1 x 104 cells) of 4T1-Luc breast cancer cells was injected into BALB/c mouse mammary fat pad using a tuberculin syringe. Mice were injected with luciferin and imaged at various time points using a bioluminescent imaging system. When the primary tumors grew to the size limit as in the IACUC-approved protocol (approximately 30 days), mice were anesthetized under constant flow of 2% isoflurane and oxygen. The tumor area was sterilized with 70% ethanol. The mouse skin around the tumor was excised to expose the tumor which was removed with a pair of sterile scissors. Removal of the primary tumor extends the survival of the 4T-1 tumor-bearing mice for one month. The mice were then repeatedly imaged for metastatic tumor spreading to distant organs. Therapeutic agents can be administered to suppress tumor metastasis at this point. This model is simple and yet sensitive in quantifying breast cancer cell growth in the primary site and progression kinetics to distant organs, and thus is an excellent model for studying breast cancer growth and progression, and for testing anti-metastasis therapeutic and immunotherapeutic agents in vivo.

An orthotopic breast cancer primary tumor model and surgical removal of primary tumor to extend mouse life to generate spontaneous metastasis are described. The tumor growth and progression are monitored and quantified by luciferase fluorescence imaging.