Intravital imaging of metastatic behavior through a mammary imaging window

Nat Methods. 2008 Dec;5(12):1019-21. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.1269. Epub 2008 Nov 9.

Abstract

We report a technique to evaluate the same tumor microenvironment over multiple intravital imaging sessions in living mice. We optically marked individual tumor cells expressing photoswitchable proteins in an orthotopic mammary carcinoma and followed them for extended periods through a mammary imaging window. We found that two distinct microenvironments in the same orthotopic mammary tumor affected differently the invasion and intravasation of tumor cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Image Enhancement / instrumentation*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / secondary*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy / instrumentation*