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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Computed Tomography-guided Time-domain Diffuse Fluorescence Tomography in Small Animals for Localization of Cancer Biomarkers
Published on: July 17, 2012
Real-time subcellular imaging in live animals: new visible targets for cancer drug discovery
1AntiCancer Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, CA 92111-3604, USA. all@anticancer.com
Abstract:
This feature describes new in vivo imaging technology to visualize and identify novel targets for cancer drug discovery. AntiCancer Inc has developed dual-color fluorescent cells, with one color in the nucleus and another color in the cytoplasm, that enable visualization of real-time nuclear-cytoplasmic dynamics in living cells in vivo and in vitro, as well as nuclear dynamics and simultaneous cell and nuclear shape change. To obtain the dual-color cells, red fluorescent protein (RFP) was expressed in the cytoplasm of human and rodent cancer cells, and green fluorescent protein (GFP) that was linked to histone H2B was expressed in the nucleus. The migration velocities of the dual-color cancer cells in the capillaries were measured by capturing images of the fluorescent cells over time. The cells and nuclei in the capillaries were shown to elongate to fit the width of these vessels. Cancer cells in capillaries that were more than 8 mm in diameter were found to migrate. During extravasation, real-time imaging demonstrated that cytoplasmic processes of certain cancer cells exited the vessels first, with the nuclei then following along the cytoplasmic projections. Both the cytoplasm and nuclei underwent deformation during extravasation. Different cancer cell lines appear to vary strongly in their ability to extravasate. With the dual-color cancer cells and a highly sensitive whole-mouse imaging system (Olympus OV100), the subcellular dynamics of cancer metastasis can now be visualized in live mice. Further developments in subcellular imaging in live animals is expected to result in a new 'in vivo cell biology' that will provide visible targets for cancer and other diseases.
Insights
New dual-color fluorescent cancer cells allow real-time visualization of nuclear-cytoplasmic dynamics in vivo. This breakthrough aids in identifying novel targets for cancer drug discovery and understanding metastasis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Cancer drug discovery requires advanced imaging to identify novel therapeutic targets.
- Understanding cancer cell dynamics during metastasis is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and utilize novel dual-color fluorescent cancer cells for in vivo imaging.
- To visualize and analyze real-time nuclear-cytoplasmic dynamics and cell migration in cancer metastasis.
Main Methods:
- Development of dual-color fluorescent cancer cells expressing red fluorescent protein (RFP) in the cytoplasm and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-histone H2B in the nucleus.
- In vivo and in vitro imaging of cancer cell migration in capillaries and extravasation using a whole-mouse imaging system (Olympus OV100).
- Quantification of cell and nuclear shape changes and migration velocities during transit through capillaries and vessel exit.
Main Results:
- Dual-color cells enabled visualization of real-time nuclear-cytoplasmic dynamics, cell/nuclear shape changes, and migration in living cells.
- Cancer cells and nuclei were observed to elongate to fit capillary dimensions, with migration occurring in vessels >8 mm in diameter.
- Real-time imaging of extravasation revealed cytoplasmic processes exiting vessels first, followed by nuclei, with significant cell line variation in extravasation ability.
Conclusions:
- This novel in vivo imaging technology provides unprecedented visualization of subcellular dynamics in cancer metastasis.
- The dual-color cell system and imaging platform offer visible targets for cancer and other diseases.
- Further advancements in in vivo subcellular imaging are expected to establish a new field of 'in vivo cell biology'.
