The generation of a conditional reporter that enables bioluminescence imaging of Cre/loxP-dependent tumorigenesis in mice

Cancer Res. 2003 Nov 1;63(21):7042-6.

Abstract

The ability to noninvasively quantitate tumor burden from conditional (Cre/loxP-dependent) mouse cancer models would greatly increase their range of useful applications. We now report the generation of a reporter mouse that enables visualization of spontaneous tumor development from pre-existing conditional mouse tumor models via in vivo bioluminescence imaging. We demonstrate that bioluminescence can be "switched-on" in a Cre-dependent manner in every organ analyzed, and that this gives rise to between a 4 and 6-log increase in light emission per mg of wet tissue weight. Furthermore, we highlight the utility of this reporter by showing that it can be used as a sensitive means to measure spontaneous Kras2(v12)-induced lung tumorigenesis in a pre-existing mouse model of non-small cell lung cancer. Taken together, our results suggest that this reporter may be combined with a wide-range of other Cre/loxP tumor mouse models, irrespective of their tissue specificity and render them immediately amenable to longitudinal monitoring of tumor growth and therapeutic response with a noninvasive in vivo imaging approach.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Integrases / genetics*
  • Integrases / metabolism
  • Luciferases / genetics*
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics*
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • Luciferases
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases