Establishment of orthotopic osteosarcoma and pulmonary metastasis nude mice model expressing red fluorescent protein

Objective To establish an orthotopic osteosarcoma and pulmonary metastasis nude mice model expressing red fluorescent protein(RFP),and could be used to monitor the growth of osteosarcoma and evaluate the efficacy of antitumor drug.Methods Human osteosarcoma cells of 143B were transfected with incasing cells PT67 contained pLNCX-DsRed-2,RFP-tagged osteosarcoma cells were injected into the proximal tibia of athymic mice,the growth and pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma were observed and analyzed with whole body optical imaging system.Results The stable RFP tagged 143B cells were established and the cell line was used to duplicate the implanted tumor model,the incidence of orthotopic tumor was 100%,and 80% of them metastasized to lungs.The tumor was forming after implanting for 1 week,growing with a spindle shape after implanting for 4 weeks and with spherical shape for 6 weeks,luminous intensity enhancing gradually,could be observed by whole body optical imaging system.Conclusion The clinically relevant model of human osteosarcoma provides varying degrees of tumor growth at the primary site and lung metastatic potential.Thus,the orthotopic nude mice model should be a valuable tool to investigate factors that promote or inhibit osteosarcoma growth or metastasis.