Green fluorescent protein expression and visualization of mediastinal lymph node metastasis of human lung cancer cell line using orthotopic implantation.
BACKGROUND
Suppression of lymphatic metastasis improves survival in lung cancer patients. We have reported a patient-like model of lung cancer metastasis based on orthotopic implantation in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice and demonstrated the lymphogenous spread histologically using human NSCLC cell lines.


METHODS
To visualize micrometastases, we transfected the Aequorea Victoria jellyfish green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene to the cancer cell line.


RESULTS
The tumor cell lines were able to stably express GFP at high levels both in vitro and in vivo. Fluorescent tumors and metastasis of the mediastinum could be visualized at microscopic levels after transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
This model demonstrated that GFP gene-transfected tumor cells represent a new tool for evaluating the metastatic process and are very useful for developing chemotherapy to inhibit metastasis.
Ishikura
Hisashi
H
The Department of Oncological and Regenerative Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima city, Japan.
Kondo
Kazuya
K
Miyoshi
Takanori
T
Takahashi
Yuji
Y
Fujino
Haruhiko
H
Monden
Yasumasa
Y
D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D014162:Transfection
D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins