Establishment of stable fluorescent protein-expressing hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft model in nude mice

Objective To establish stable RFP-or GFP-expressing HCC xenograft model in nude mice.Methods HCCLM3,a human HCC cell line with hish metastatic potential was transfeeted with fulllength cDNA of RFP or GFP by lentivirus.1×107 stable RFP-and GFP-expressing HCC cells namely HCCLM3-R and HCCLM3-G were subcutaneously injected and HCCLM3-R or HCCLM3-G orthotopic model in nude mice was established by surgical implantation of 2 mm3 subcutaneous tumor tissue pieces.Results One hundred and eighty days after 6 passages in nude mice,HCCLM3-R and HCCLM3-G xenograft model still expressed red and green fluorescence stably and intensely.One hundred percent tumorigenesis was achieved when HccLM3-R and HCCLM3-G cells were injected subcutaneously in 5 nude mice or when HCCLM3-R and HCCLM3-G tumor tissue were implanted inte the liver in 10 nude mice.The ratio of tumor metastasis to liver,lung and abdomen was 100%,100% and 90%,respectively.Conclusion Stable fluorescent protein-expressing HCC xenograft models derived from HCCLM3-R and HCCLM3-G cell lines could be useful for studying the mechanisms of tumor growth and metastasis of HCC. Key words: Carcinoma,hepatocellular;  Red fluorescent protein;  Green fluorescent protein; Model,animal