Validating bioluminescence imaging as a high-throughput, quantitative modality for assessing tumor burden.
Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a highly sensitive tool for visualizing tumors, neoplastic development, metastatic spread, and response to therapy. Although BLI has engendered much excitement due to its apparent simplicity and ease of implementation, few rigorous studies have been presented to validate the measurements. Here, we characterize the nature of bioluminescence output from mice bearing subcutaneous luciferase-expressing tumors over a 4-week period. Following intraperitoneal or direct intratumoral administration of luciferin substrate, there was a highly dynamic kinetic profile of light emission. Although bioluminescence was subject to variability, strong correlations (r >.8, p <.001) between caliper measured tumor volumes and peak light signal, area under light signal curve and light emission at specific time points were determined. Moreover, the profile of tumor growth, as monitored with bioluminescence, closely resembled that for caliper measurements. The study shows that despite the dynamic and variable nature of bioluminescence, where appropriate experimental precautions are taken, single time point BLI may be useful for noninvasive, high-throughput, quantitative assessment of tumor burden.
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 75390-9058, USA.
Zain
Z
Paroo
Robert A
RA
Bollinger
Dwaine A
DA
Braasch
Edmond
E
Richer
David R
DR
Corey
Peter P
PP
Antich
Ralph P
RP
Mason
D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D047368:Tumor Burden; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
D008156:Luciferases