Real-time monitoring of tumor progression and drug responses in a preclinical mouse model of prostate cancer

Monitoring disease progression through imaging is playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of prostate cancer. Here, we report that primary mouse prostate cancer cell lines stably expressing luciferase and tumor biomarkers can be monitored through bioluminescence imaging along with assays of serum biomarkers and immune function. Tumorigenesis in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice can be monitored in by collecting samples from the dorsal flank, dorsolateral prostate, and tail vein to obtain real-time subcutaneous, orthotopic, and metastasis indicators, respectively. We used this technique to confirm the therapeutic effect of immune checkpoint blockade. Our findings suggest the presented indicators are ideally suited for real-time tracking of drug responses, tumor progression and immune function.

Oncotarget. 2016 Apr 20 [Epub ahead of print]

Peng Xu, Naijin Xu, Kai Guo, Abai Xu, Fumiaki Takenaka, Eiji Matsuura, Chunxiao Liu, Hiromi Kumon, Peng Huang

Department of Urology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China., Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan., Department of Urology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China., Department of Urology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China., Okayama Medical Innovation Center, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan., Okayama Medical Innovation Center, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan., Department of Urology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China., Innovation Center Okayama for Nanobio-targeted Therapy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan., Department of Urology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.