title: Semi-solid tumor model in Xenopus laevis/gilli cloned tadpoles for intravital study of neovascularization, immune cells and melanophore infiltration.
abstract: Tumors have the ability to grow as a self-sustaining entity within the body. This autonomy is in part accomplished by the tumor cells ability to induce the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and by controlling cell trafficking inside the tumor mass. These abilities greatly reduce the efficacy of many cancer therapies and pose challenges for the development of more effective cancer treatments. Hence, there is a need for animal models suitable for direct microscopy observation of blood vessel formation and cell trafficking, especially during early stages of tumor establishment. Here, we have developed a reliable and cost effective tumor model system in tadpoles of the amphibian Xenopus laevis. Tadpoles are ideally suited for direct microscopy observation because of their small size and transparency. Using the thymic lymphoid tumor line 15/0 derived from, and transplantable into, the X. laevis/gilli isogenic clone LG-15, we have adapted a system that consists in transplanting 15/0 tumor cells embedded into rat collagen under the dorsal skin of LG-15 tadpole recipients. This system recapitulates many facets of mammalian tumorigenesis and permits real time visualization of the active formation of the tumor microenvironment induced by 15/0 tumor cells including neovascularization, collagen rearrangements as well as infiltration of immune cells and melanophores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, USA.
authors.forename: Nikesha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haynes-Gimore
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banach
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, USA.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Eva-Stina
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Edholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Rochester, USA.
authors.forename: Minsoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Electronic address: Jacques_Robert@urmc.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D019976:Cloning, Organism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D000069416:Intravital Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D008547:Melanophores / Q000473:pathology*; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D051381:Rats; D014981:Xenopus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: Angiogenesis; Intravital microscopy; Tumor immunity; Tumor microenvironment; Tumor model