Visualizing murine breast and melanoma tumor microenvironment using intravital multiphoton microscopy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Biomedical Imaging

Background:

• Intravital multiphoton microscopy enables dynamic visualization of biological processes within living tissues.
• Understanding the tumor microenvironment is crucial for developing effective cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a detailed protocol for establishing an experimental cancer imaging model using intravital multiphoton microscopy.
• To optimize the protocol for solid tumors, including breast cancer and melanoma, implanted in mouse flanks.
• To facilitate the study of tumor-immune cell dynamics and other in vivo biological questions within the tumor microenvironment.

Main Methods:

• Development of a step-by-step protocol for intravital multiphoton imaging.
• Optimization of the imaging model for solid tumors (breast cancer, melanoma) in mouse flank implantation models.
• Application of the protocol for in vivo investigation of cellular dynamics within the tumor milieu.

Main Results:

• A reproducible protocol for setting up an experimental cancer imaging model has been established.
• The protocol is optimized for solid tumors, allowing for detailed in situ analysis.
• The method is suitable for dissecting tumor-immune cell interactions and other vital tumor processes.

Conclusions:

• Intravital multiphoton imaging provides a powerful tool for dissecting complex tumor biology in situ.
• This protocol offers a standardized approach for studying tumor-immune dynamics in vivo.
• The presented method supports research into breast cancer, melanoma, and other solid tumor models.