title: Bioluminescent orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer progression.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University.
authors.forename: Ming G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim-Fuchs
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Angst
authors.forename: Erica K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Sloan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen; D018450:Disease Progression; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D049454:Firefly Luciferin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007797:Laminin; D008156:Luciferases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D011509:Proteoglycans; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D049408:Luminescent Agents; D011509:Proteoglycans; C059485:matrigel; D049454:Firefly Luciferin; D003094:Collagen; D008156:Luciferases