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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
In vivo Imaging and Therapeutic Treatments in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Ovarian Cancer
Published on: August 17, 2010
Light-based imaging of green fluorescent protein-positive ovarian cancer xenografts during therapy
T R Chaudhuri1, J M Mountz, B E Rogers
1Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA. DrTRC@uab.edu
Objective:
The purpose of the study was to develop a sensitive, noninvasive imaging method for monitoring ovarian xenografts during therapeutic intervention.
Methods:
Human ovarian tumor cells (SKOV3.ip1) were infected with a replication-deficient adenoviral (Ad) vector encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP). The GFP-positive tumor cells were imaged in vitro and in vivo with a fluorescence stereomicroscope. Using appropriate filters, both GFP fluorescence and adriamycin were simultaneously detected. Nude mice implanted with GFP-positive cells were imaged repeatedly, in a noninvasive manner.
Results:
SKOV3.ip1 cells infected with Ad-GFP showed high GFP fluorescence, which was eliminated after treatment with adriamycin. Loss of GFP fluorescence was confirmed to be dead cells. For in vivo imaging, intraperitoneal tumors as small as 0.2 mm in diameter were detected externally. Adriamycin uptake was detected in tumors by in vivo imaging, and reduction in tumor size was concurrent with decrease in GFP fluorescence. These findings were confirmed at necropsy.
Conclusions:
Fluorescence stereomicroscopy monitored the response of ovarian xenografts to adriamycin therapy. For the first time, GFP and adriamycin were imaged simultaneously.
Insights
This study developed a noninvasive fluorescence imaging method to monitor ovarian xenografts. The technique successfully tracked tumor response to adriamycin therapy in real-time.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical imaging
- Ovarian cancer research
- Fluorescence microscopy
Background:
- Monitoring therapeutic interventions in ovarian cancer xenografts is crucial for treatment efficacy.
- Current methods may be invasive or lack sensitivity for early detection of treatment response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a sensitive, noninvasive imaging method for monitoring ovarian xenografts during therapeutic intervention.
- To simultaneously image green fluorescent protein (GFP) and adriamycin in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Human ovarian tumor cells (SKOV3.ip1) were engineered to express GFP using an adenoviral vector.
- Fluorescence stereomicroscopy was employed for in vitro and in vivo imaging of GFP-positive tumors.
- Simultaneous detection of GFP fluorescence and adriamycin was achieved using specific filters.
Main Results:
- Engineered cells exhibited strong GFP fluorescence, which diminished upon adriamycin treatment, indicating cell death.
- The method detected small intraperitoneal tumors (0.2 mm) noninvasively.
- In vivo imaging confirmed adriamycin uptake and correlated decreased GFP fluorescence with reduced tumor size.
Conclusions:
- Fluorescence stereomicroscopy provides a sensitive, noninvasive approach to monitor ovarian xenograft response to adriamycin therapy.
- This study demonstrates the first simultaneous in vivo imaging of GFP and adriamycin.
