A fluorescent orthotopic bone metastasis model of human prostate cancer

Here, we report a fluorescent spontaneous bone metastatic model of human pr ostate cancer developed by surgical orthotopic implantation of green fluore scent protein (GFP)-expressing prostate cancer tissue. Human prostate cance r PC-3 cells were transduced with the pLEIN expression retroviral vector co ntaining the enhanced GFP and neomycin resistance genes, Stable GFP high-ex pression PC-3 clones were selected in vifro with G418, which were then comb ined and injected s.c, in nude mice. For metastasis studies, fragments of a single highly fluorescent s,c. growing tumor were implanted by surgical or thotopic implantation in the prostate of a series of nude mice. Subsequent mierometastases and metastases were visualized by GFP fluorescence througho ut the skeleton, including the skull, rib, pelvis, femur, and tibia, The ce ntral nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, was also involve d with tumor, as visualized by GFP fluorescence. Systemic organs, including the lung, plural membrane, Liver, kidney, and adrenal gland, also had fluo rescent metastases, The metastasis pattern in this model reflects the bone and other metastatic sites of human prostate cancer. Thus, this model shoul d be very useful for the study and development of treatment for metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer.