Home › Cell Biology › In vivo Imaging and Therapeutic Treatments in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Ovarian Cancer
Cell Biology JoVE (Open Access) Citable · DOI

In vivo Imaging and Therapeutic Treatments in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Ovarian Cancer

DOI: 10.3791/2125-v
What you'll learn
  • ✓ Perform intrabursal injection of tumor cells into mouse ovaries
  • ✓ Administer therapeutic drugs via oral gavage in vivo
  • ✓ Monitor tumor growth using bioluminescent imaging systems
  • ✓ Interpret representative results from orthotopic ovarian cancer models
Protocol

Orthotopic animal models of ovarian cancer replicate better human disease and therefore enhance our understanding of cancer progression and tumor response to therapy. A mouse model receives an intrabursal injection of luciferase-expressing ovarian tumor cells. Treatment is administered via oral gavage. Tumor growth is monitored by in vivo imaging system.

Difficulty
advanced
Total time
~4-6 weeks (tumor establishment and treatment course); ~30 min per injection; ~5 min per gavage; ~10 min per imaging session
Model organism
Mouse (strain not specified)
Biosafety
BSL-2

Steps

1
Understand orthotopic ovarian cancer model design

Review the rationale for orthotopic models in replicating human ovarian cancer disease progression and therapeutic response compared to subcutaneous models.

▶ 00:59
2
Perform intrabursal injection of tumor cells

Surgically inject luciferase-expressing ovarian tumor cells directly into the mouse ovarian bursa using proper sterile technique and anesthesia.

▶ 01:20
3
Administer therapeutic drugs by oral gavage

Deliver treatment compounds orally via gavage needle, establishing a consistent dosing schedule for in vivo therapeutic assessment.

▶ 03:54
4
Monitor tumor growth via in vivo imaging

Use bioluminescent imaging system to track luciferase-expressing tumor progression non-invasively over the experimental timeline.

▶ 05:20
5
Interpret representative imaging and outcome data

Analyze quantitative bioluminescent signals and gross tumor measurements to assess treatment efficacy and disease kinetics.

▶ 06:41
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