LUCIFERASE ACTIVITY AS A MARKER OF TUMOR BURDEN AND AS AN INDICATOR OF TUMOR RESPONSE TO ANTINEOPLASTIC THERAPY IN-VIVO

The gene encoding firefly luciferase has been used as a reporter gene for the study of gene function. The luciferase catalyzes its substrate and subsequently produces luminescence. In addition, it is not presen t in mammalian cells. We have therefore explored its use in monitoring the growth of tumors in vivo. The luciferase gene was transfected int o two murine tumor lines, i.e. cl62 melanoma and M109 lung carcinoma, and the luciferase activity associated with the cells was determined b y a rapid chemiluminescent reaction. Luciferase activity was well-corr elated with the number of tumor cells in vitro. Luciferase activity al so correlated with the tumor burden in vivo, as well as with the effec t of an adoptive T cell transfer therapy in the syngeneic C3H/HeN mice experimental tumor model. This assay offers the advantage of being qu antitative, rapid, and reliable for the detection of tumor burden and for the evaluation of the effect of antineoplastic therapy.