Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 31, 2026
Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
Published on: October 27, 2020
Imaging TGFβ Signaling in Mouse Models of Cancer Metastasis
1Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory 255, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA. ykang@princeton.edu.
Abstract:
Metastatic spread of cancer cells from the primary tumors to distant vital organs, such as lung, liver, brain, and bone, is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. Development of metastatic lesions is critically dependent on the interaction of tumor cells with the stromal microenvironment. As a multifunctional paracrine signaling factor that is abundantly produced by both tumor and stromal cells, TGFβ has been well established as an important mediator of tumor-stromal interaction during cancer metastasis. Imaging the in vivo dynamic of TGFβ signaling activity during cancer metastasis is critical for understanding the pathogenesis of the disease, and for the development of effective anti-metastasis treatments. In this chapter, I describe several xenograft methods to introduce human breast cancer cells into nude mice in order to generate spontaneous and experimental metastases, as well as the luciferase-based bioluminescence imaging method for quantitative imaging analysis of TGFβ signaling in tumor cells during metastasis.
Insights
Understanding cancer metastasis requires studying tumor-stromal interactions. This research uses xenograft models and bioluminescence imaging to track transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling during metastasis, aiding anti-metastasis treatment development.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Cancer metastasis, the spread of cancer cells to distant organs, causes most cancer deaths.
- Tumor-stromal interactions are crucial for the development of metastatic lesions.
- Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is a key mediator of tumor-stromal interactions in metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe xenograft methods for generating spontaneous and experimental metastases in mice.
- To present a bioluminescence imaging method for analyzing TGFβ signaling in vivo.
- To facilitate understanding of cancer metastasis pathogenesis and development of anti-metastasis therapies.
Main Methods:
- Human breast cancer cells were introduced into nude mice to create metastatic models.
- Xenograft models were used to generate both spontaneous and experimental metastases.
- Luciferase-based bioluminescence imaging enabled quantitative analysis of TGFβ signaling.
Main Results:
- The study successfully established xenograft models of breast cancer metastasis.
- Bioluminescence imaging provided a method to visualize and quantify TGFβ signaling dynamics.
- These methods allow for in vivo assessment of TGFβ activity during the metastatic process.
Conclusions:
- In vivo imaging of TGFβ signaling is critical for understanding metastasis.
- The described xenograft and imaging techniques are valuable tools for cancer research.
- This approach can aid in developing targeted anti-metastasis treatments.
