A Non-invasive Imageable GFP-expressing Mouse Model of Orthotopic Human Bladder Cancer

Abstract

Background/aim: A more realistic mouse model of bladder cancer is necessary to develop effective drugs for the disease. Tumor models enhanced by bright fluorescent-reporter genes to follow the disease in real-time would enhance the ability to accurately predict the efficacy of various therapeutics on this particularly-malignant human cancer.

Materials and methods: A highly-fluorescent green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing bladder cancer model was orthotopically established in nude mice using the UM-UC-3 human bladder-cancer cell line (UM-UC-3-GFP). Fragments from a subcutaneous tumor of UM-UC-3-GFP were surgically implanted into the nude mouse bladder. Non-invasive and intra-vital fluorescence imaging was obtained with a simple imaging box.

Results: The GFP-expressing orthotopic bladder tumor was imaged in real-time non-invasively as well as intra-vitally, with the two methods correlating at r=0.99.

Conclusion: This is the first non-invasive-fluorescence-imaging orthotopic model of bladder cancer and can be used for rapidly screening novel effective agents for this recalcitrant disease.

Keywords: Bladder cancer; GFP; imaging; non-invasive; nude mice; orthotopic.