An orthotopic metastatic xenograft model of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) presents a substantial global health challenge, prompting the necessity for the development and validation of preclinical models to enhance our comprehension and therapeutic interventions. Among the myriad of murine models available for CRC evaluation, orthotopic implantation via intercaecal microinjection stands out as a preferred method for replicating the intricate tumor microenvironment while ensuring uniformity and standardized applicability. In this study, we delineate a methodology addressing the required steps for tumor cell line selection and reporter transduction, animal model preparation, orthotopic tumor implantation, in vivo monitoring of tumor growth and metastasis formation. We comprehensively describe the generation of a xenograft murine model based on the intercaecal implantation of human GFP⁺/luciferase⁺ SW620 CRC cells, facilitating the evaluation of responses to pre-clinical human-based therapeutic approaches. The implementation of these standardized protocols promises to augment the reliability and reproducibility of preclinical studies, ultimately advancing our comprehension of CRC pathogenesis and guiding the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.