Abstract 5114: Multi-organ metastatic capability of 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells after surgical resection of primary orthotopic tumor.

Abstract

Abstract We report an optically imageable orthotopic metastatic syngeneic model of 4T1 mouse breast cancer expressing red fluorescent protein (RFP). 4T1 cells, expressing RFP, were injected orthotopically into the right second mammary fat pad of BALB/c mice. The primary tumor was removed on day-18 after tumor implantation, when the average tumor volume reached approximate 500-600 mm3. At autopsy, the 4T1-RFP was found to have metastasized to numerous organs, when the mice were sacrificed 6-8 weeks after cell implantation, including the lung in 91% of the animals, the lymph nodes in 100% of the animals including axillary nodes, the liver in 91% of the animals, the bone in 42% of the animals and the brain in 25% of the animal. Detailed fluorescence analysis visualized extensive metastasis in the thoracic cavity and the lymphatic system. Large metastatic nodules in the lung involved most of the pulmonary parenchyma in all lobes. Lymph node metastasis was found mainly in the axillary area. In the liver, fluorescent macroscopic metastatic nodules were found under the capsule. The metastatic pattern in the model thus reflected clinical highly metastatic breast cancer and enables drug discovery for this disease. Citation Format: Yong Zhang, Nan Zhang, Robert M. Hoffman, Ming Zhao. Multi-organ metastatic capability of 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells after surgical resection of primary orthotopic tumor. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5114. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5114