Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
05:22
Isolation and Propagation of Circulating Tumor Cells from a Mouse Cancer Model
Published on: October 9, 2015
12.6K
Color-coded Imaging of the Circulating Tumor Cell Microenvironment
Tomoyuki Satake1, Atsushi Suetsugu2,3,4, Miki Nakamura1
1Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Anticancer Research
|October 3, 2018
Summary
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can form clusters, sometimes including fibroblasts, which may promote metastasis. Understanding the circulating tumor cell microenvironment (CME) is crucial for studying CTC behavior and metastasis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Metastasis Research
Background:
- Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are implicated in initiating metastasis.
- CTC count and cluster presence are potential prognostic indicators.
- Investigating the CTC microenvironment is key to understanding metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the microenvironment of CTC clusters using a color-coded imaging nude mouse model.
- To characterize CTC clusters and their cellular composition in metastatic lymphoma.
Main Methods:
- Utilized EL-4 mouse lymphoma cells expressing RFP injected into GFP mice.
- Quantified and characterized CTCs and CTC clusters in heart and portal blood using confocal microscopy.
- Employed color-coded imaging for distinguishing cell types within clusters.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in CTC numbers between heart and portal blood.
- CTC clusters constituted 8.8% of all CTCs.
- Heterotypic clusters (including fibroblasts) were observed, primarily in portal blood, suggesting a role in metastasis.
Conclusions:
- CTCs exhibit variable properties based on blood source.
- CTC clusters can incorporate fibroblasts, potentially promoting metastasis.
- Introduced the concept of the CTC microenvironment (CME) as critical for CTC behavior and metastasis.
Related Concept Videos
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
7.8K
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
7.8K
02:39lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
10.0K
In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA...
10.0K
02:39lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
3.7K
3.7K
03:02Colors and Magnetism
14.1K
Color in Coordination Complexes
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human...
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human...
14.1K
01:24Color Vision
1.5K
Color perception begins in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Two main theories explain how colors are seen: the trichromatic theory and the opponent-process theory. The trichromatic theory, proposed by Thomas Young in 1802 and extended by Hermann von Helmholtz in 1852, suggests that color vision is based on three types of cone receptors in the retina. These cones are sensitive to different but overlapping ranges of wavelengths corresponding to red, blue, and green.
1.5K
01:29Nursing Code of Ethics
4.6K
The Nursing Code of Ethics sets the ethical benchmark for the profession, and guides nurses in ethical analysis and decision making at the societal, organizational, and clinical levels. The code encompasses showing compassion and respect for the patient, their families, and communities in all circumstances while committing to providing patient-centered care. In addition, the code states that nurses must advocate for the patient by defending a cause or recommendation to protect their rights,...
4.6K