Key points for orthotopic tumor models in mouse
Why use mice to make cancer models?
Mice have been widely used as the preeminent models in cancer research and drug testing for long time. The following general characteristics of mice make them ideal for cancer research:
• Small size, easy to handle and take care of
• Short generation time
• Easily available from commercials
• Far more cheaper than other mammal animals, allowing them to be used in large number for scientific purpose
• Many mice can be treated at the same time
• High tumor incidence
• Highest number of syngeneic tumor models
• Histocompatibility within inbred strains allows tumor transplantation
• Accommodation of nude mice to human tumor models
• Relatively rapid tumor growth in mice makes them useful in cancer research
• Genetically best characterized of all mammals
Why do we have to use orthotopic (in the correct anatomical site) models instead of ectopic ones?
Earlier selection of mouse models of cancer is often limited by the availability of mouse strains, their compatible tumor models and technical competence, with the better understanding of interaction between tumor cells and their microenvironment, scientists realize that orthotopic models are absolute necessary to mimic the complexity of tumor behavior in patients. The in vivo microenvironment surrounding cancer cells exerts a significant influence on the tumor’s growth and metastasis as well as its response to treatment. The distinctive structural and biochemical compositions, unique arrangement of various cell types, and complicated interaction of heterogeneous growth factors, etc in each organ all point to the necessity of orthotopic model of tumors. So, an ideal animal model of cancer should mimic interaction of tumor cells with their relevant organ environment. Orthotopic tumor models have shown similar tumor architecture, cell morphology and molecular characteristics as clinical cancers. Orthotopic models have been proven to be more valuable in elucidating pathogenesis of tumor growth and metastasis and predicting clinical efficacy than ectopic ones. Orthotopic models are now extensively used in the development of new anticancer treatments and studies of tumor biology.
To learn more proven tips about successful mouse experiments, please see Mouse Experiment Tips.
Learn to do real world mouse techniques and cancer models from experts by watching live demos, please visit Video Training Courses.
Checklist might help you to prepare an in vivo mouse experiment:
A successful experiment involves multiple factors. Make sure everything is ready before starting an in vivo experiment.
• Cell preparation
Good preparation of cells is the key to a successful in vivo experiment. The cells must be very healthy, in the logarithmic phase of cell growth when they are used. New thawed cells have to be given at least one week to allow them to recover to their exponential growth phase. During cell passage, don’t split cells too sparse, which will select out subpopulation of the cells. Three days before the in vivo experiment, seed the cells into a new culture dish or flask, one day before the experiment, change to fresh medium, when harvesting the cells, the cells must be 70-90% confluent (for monolayer culture). To prepare single cell suspension, ...
• Mice preparation
Make sure you have enough healthy and well-prepared mice with right strain, right sex, and right age. Mice are easily stressed and upset. Mice can have tremendous change in the levels of various chemical and cellular constituents in the blood and lose 10-20% of their body weight during transportation from a distant vendor to your facility. Thus allow them to adapt to their new circumstances at least for one week.
Some experiments need specific sex, such as prostate cancer model, breast cancer model etc.
Mice of 6-8 weeks old may not respond to treatment the same way as mice of 4 months old. Keep this in mind when you need to repeat the same experiment, especially for some immuno-therapy experiments.
Different strains respond to treatment differently. So one treatment that works in one strain may not work in another, and vice versa.
Make sure the mouse strain is right for the tumor cells you will use.
• People preparation
Some experiment may take several hours to do if you do it on your own. Get an assistant, it may shorten your time to its half, but just let one person do all the cell injections to mice. The quicker you inject the cells into animal after harvesting, the better.
• Anesthetics, Drugs or chemicals preparation
• Instruments preparation
• Pre- and postoperative care
Pre- and postoperative care may make the difference between success and failure of an in vivo experiment, so don’t rush the procedure. Leave enough time for preparation and complete recovery of mice.
• A review of the surgical technique
• Time planning.
Always give enough time for performing an in vivo experiment. Start early in the day, in case some unexpected situations arise, you still have time to complete the experiment. Rush the procedures may ruin the experiment.
To learn more proven tips about successful mouse experiments, please see Mouse Experiment Tips.
Learn to do real world mouse techniques and cancer models from experts by watching live demos, please visit Video Training Courses.
This website provides all the detailed protocols for mouse cancer models, particularly orthotopic mouse models of cancer, it covers the following topics:
General MouseTechniques:
How to anesthetize a mouse?
Aseptic Techniques for mouse surgery
How to collect blood from a mouse?
How to restrain a mouse? (General Restraint)
How to remove hair from a mouse? (Hair Removal)
Intracardiac Injection (How to do left heart or arterial injection?)
Intradermal Injection (How to do intradermal injection?)
Intramuscular Injection (How to do intramuscular injection?)
Intraperitoneal Injection (How to do intraperitoneal injection?)
Intrasplenic Injection(How to do intrasplenic injection?)
Intravenous Injection(How to do i.v. injection?)
Oral Gavage(How to do oral gavage?)
Sacrifice (How to sacrifice a mouse?)
Subcutaneous Injection (How to s.c. injection?)
Orthotopic Tumor Models:
How to make a bladder cancer model?
How to make a bone cancer model?
How to make a bone metastasis model by intracardiac injection?
How to make a brain tumor model by intracerebral injection?
How to make a brain metastasis model by intracarotid injection?
How to make a brain metastasis model by intracardiac injection?
How to make a breast cancer model?
How to make a colon cancer model?
How to make an esophageal carcinoma model?
How to make a gastric cancer model?
How to make a liver cancer model by intrahapetic injection?
How to make a liver metastasis model by intrasplenic injection?
How to make a liver metastasis model by intracecal injection?
How to make a lung cancer model?
How to make a lung metastasis model by intravenous injection?
How to make an oral tongue cancer model?
How to make a pancreatic cancer model?
How to make a prostate cancer model?
How to make a renal cancer model?
How to make a subcutaneous tumor model?
How to make a uterine cancer model?
To learn more proven tips about successful mouse experiments, please see Mouse Experiment Tips.
Learn to do real world mouse techniques and cancer models from experts by watching live demos, please visit Video Training Courses.