In situ analysis of breast cancer progression in murine models using a macroscopic fluorescence imaging system.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to use an inexpensive macroscopic imaging system to monitor tumor progression in mouse models in real-time with minimal intervention.


METHODS
Illumination is provided via a xenon arc lamp and a fiber optic probe which delivers white light or quasi-monochromatic excitation via specific bandpass filters. Fluorescence emission from SCID and nude mice following mammary fat pad injection of red fluorescence protein (RFP)-expressing human breast cancer cell lines was recorded and quantified using a single lens reflex (SLR) digital camera.


RESULTS
This simple system enabled the verification of successful tumor take and temporal quantification of tumor progression in mouse models.


CONCLUSIONS
The macroscopic fluorescence imaging system represents an inexpensive and portable tool to facilitate non-invasive in situ cancer detection with the potential to monitor fluorescent tumor formation and investigation of the efficacy of potential cancer therapeutics.
Carlson
Alicia L
AL
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
Hoffmeyer
Michaela R
MR
Wall
Kristin M
KM
Baugher
Paige J
PJ
Richards-Kortum
Rebecca
R
Dharmawardhane
Suranganie F
SF
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016513:Mice, SCID; D055100:Optical Fibers; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D049408:Luminescent Agents; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein