Oncology / Angiogenesis Models

The images at left show two transgenic mice that have inherited a Cre recombinase-dependent luciferase (LucRep) transgene. Both mice are littermates, but one of the mice additionally inherited a Cre allele that expresses in all tissues. The LucRep transgene was designed to be "switched on" by Cre in all tissues. As illustrated in these images (and confirmed by further analysis), these mice only become bioluminescent following Cre-mediated recombination of the LucRep allele. (1 second, bin 2 images, IVIS® Imaging System 100 Series)

Publication: Cancer Res. 2003 Nov 1;63(21):7042-6.

• These mice are littermates
• Top mouse has LucRep and no Cre recombinase
• Lower mouse has LucRep and expresses Cre in all cells

Publication: Cancer Res. 2003 Nov 1;63(21):7042-6.

The images above show the LucRep transgene lighting up spontaneously developed (K-Ras dependent) lung tumors in the mouse. Cre recombinase was used to activate mutant K-Ras expression in the lung which simultaneously "switched on" luciferase expression from the LucRep transgene. As a consequence, the K-Ras-induced tumor cells also expressed luciferase, which could be imaged non-invasively with an IVIS® Imaging System. (1 minute, bin 10 images, IVIS® 100 Series)




These transgenic mice specifically express firefly luciferase in their blood vessels and have been injected with non-glowing LL/2 tumor cells at two sites as indicated.  As the tumor cells themselves don’t glow, the observed tumor bioluminescence indicates de novo tumor vascularization (angiogenesis), whereby the light originates from labeled blood vessel tissue that has grown from the host into the tumor.




The expression of both firefly luciferase and SV40 T-antigens are regulated by the Elastase I promoter in these transgenic mice. This restricts both luciferase and oncogene expression to the exocrine pancreas, such that all oncogene-induced pancreatic tumors glow. (Images; IVIS® Imaging System 200 Series, 60 sec, Large bin)




The expression of both firefly luciferase and SV40 T-antigens are regulated by the Uroplakin II promoter in these transgenic mice. This restricts both luciferase and oncogene expression to the urothelium of the bladder, such that the oncogene-induced bladder tumors that develop in these mice glow.

Publications: Cancer Res.2002 Mar 15;62(6):1862-7
Science, Vol 299, Mar 2003, p1972

These images show the development of a bioluminescent pituitary tumor in a transgenic mouse following conditional and homozygous deletion of Rb. This mouse expresses both firefly luciferase and Cre recombinase under the transcriptional regulation of the POMC promoter. (1 minute, bin 10 images, IVIS® Imaging System 100 Series)