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Kristian Pietras

Kristian Pietras

Research team manager

Kristian Pietras

Noninvasive intravital high-resolution imaging of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

Author

  • Mirela Balan
  • Marta Trusohamn
  • Frank Chenfei Ning
  • Stefan Jacob
  • Kristian Pietras
  • Ulf Eriksson
  • Per Olof Berggren
  • Daniel Nyqvist

Summary, in English

Preclinical trials of cancer drugs in animal models are important for drug development. The Rip1Tag2 (RT2) transgenic mouse, a model of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNET), has provided immense knowledge about PNET biology, although tumour progression occurs in a location inaccessible for real-time monitoring. To overcome this hurdle we have developed a novel platform for intravital 3D imaging of RT2 tumours to facilitate real-time studies of cancer progression. Pre-oncogenic islets retrieved from RT2 mice were implanted into the anterior chamber of the eye (ACE) of host mice, where they engrafted on the iris, recruited blood vessels and showed continuous growth. Noninvasive confocal and two-photon laser-scanning microscopy through the transparent cornea facilitated high-resolution imaging of tumour growth and angiogenesis. RT2 tumours in the ACE expanded up to 8-fold in size and shared hallmarks with tumours developing in situ in the pancreas. Genetically encoded fluorescent reporters enabled high-resolution imaging of stromal cells and tumour cell migration. Sunitinib treatment impaired RT2 tumour angiogenesis and growth, while overexpression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-B increased tumour angiogenesis though tumour growth was impaired. In conclusion, we present a novel platform for intravital high-resolution and 3D imaging of PNET biology and cancer drug assessment.

Department/s

  • Experimental oncology
  • BioCARE: Biomarkers in Cancer Medicine improving Health Care, Education and Innovation

Publishing year

2019

Language

English

Pages

14636-14636

Publication/Series

Scientific Reports

Volume

9

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Topic

  • Biomedical Laboratory Science/Technology

Status

Published

Research group

  • Experimental oncology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2045-2322