Abstract: Objective To establish an orthotopic transplant nude mice model of human colon cancer and discuss the application of in vivo biofluorescent imaging system in animal model. Methods Human colon cancer cells were tranfected with green fluorescent protein/Luciferase gene by lentiviral vector, they were orthotopically transplanted into the cecum of nude mice by using tumor tissues or cell culture method. The tumor growth and metastasis were dynamically observed by using in vivo biofluorescent imaging system. Results The human colon cancer cell line and orthotopic transplant nude mice model were successfully established, which could display stable high-level GFP/Luc expression in vitro and in vivo. In vivo biofluorescent images showed that the fluorescent areas and intensities were increased gradually with the increase of tumor volume in nude mice during 7 weeks of dynamic observation. Conclusions In vivo biofluorescent imaging system was fitted for evaluation and quantitation of the tumor growth and metastasis of colon cancer. It would provide effective reference for the observation and study of in vivo deep tumors.

Key words: Human colon cancer, Orthotopic transplantation, In vivo imaging system, Lentiviral vector