Breast cancer

Preclinical orthotopic breast cancer models for in vivo studies of primary tumor growth, metastatic progression and therapeutic response.

Preclinical breast cancer model overview

Our orthotopic breast cancer model provides a clinically relevant platform for studying primary tumor growth, metastatic progression and therapeutic response in vivo. Longitudinal bioluminescence imaging (BLI), combined with CT and complementary imaging approaches, enables sensitive monitoring of breast cancer progression over time.

Our orthotopic breast cancer mouse model uses patient-derived or cell line- derived xenografts expressing luciferase, implanted into the mammary fat pad to establish primary tumors in vivo. Longitudinal bioluminescence imaging (BLI) enables quantitative monitoring of primary tumor growth and metastatic progression in the same animal over time.

BLI can be combined with 3D imaging and CT to spatially localize primary tumors and metastatic sites. Near-infrared fluorescent probes can also be incorporated to investigate tumor-associated processes including angiogenesis, apoptosis, metabolism and hypoxia. Studies can be complemented by blood sampling, histology and molecular analyses for further characterization of treatment effects.

Key capabilities