Imaging of Human Cancer Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Micrometastasis in a Zebrafish Xenogeneic Engraftment Model

Abstract

The xenograft model, using the early life stages of the zebrafish, allows imaging of tumor cell behavior both on a single cell and whole organism level, over time, within a week. This robust and reproducible assay can be used as an intermediate step between in vitro techniques and the expensive, and time consuming, murine models of cancer invasion and metastasis.In this chapter, a detailed protocol to inject human cancer cells into the blood circulation of a zebrafish embryo is described; the engraftment procedure is then followed by visualization and quantification methods of tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and micrometastasis formation during subsequent larval development. Interaction with the host microenvironment is also considered.

Keywords: Chemical treatment; Metastasis; Microenvironment; Tumor invasion; Tumor proliferation; Xenotransplantation; Zebrafish embryo.