Method for in vivo dynamic tracking of sciatic nerve infiltration with tumor cells

Abstract

The invention provides a method for in vivo dynamic tracking of sciatic nerve infiltration with tumor cells. The method comprises the following steps: A, transfecting tumor cells out of the body of a nude mouse by virtue of a tracer agent; B, perineurally injecting the tumor cells, which are transfected with the tracer agent, at sciatic nerves of the nude mouse; and C, conducting MR (magnetic resonance) scanning on the sciatic nerves at each time point. According to the method disclosed by the invention, the tumor cells are marked by the tracer agent; and through the MR scanning, the phenomenon that the sciatic nerves are infiltrated by the tumor cells can be observed in an early stage (the method can observe the phenomenon about half the time in advance in comparison with conventional methods for assessing sciatic nerve infiltration, such as sciatic nerve function assessment, radiographic observation of tumor size and sciatic nerve diameter, and the like), and moreover, in vivo dynamic tracking of the process that the tumor cells transfer along the sciatic nerves can be achieved.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a method for dynamically tracing tumor cell infiltration into sciatic nerve in a living body. Background technique [0002] Peripheral nerve invasion (PNI) is a complex pathological process involving tumor cells, nerve fibers and tumor stroma. The lack of an ideal disease model limits the study of PNI. Earlier in vitro studies used Boyden chambers to spread Matrigel glue to simulate basement membranes to find and verify neurotrophic factors related to tumor invasion or metastasis, but this method failed to directly explain tumor cell infiltration into nerves. In 2001, Ayala et al first reported the establishment of a three-dimensional in vitro culture model of tumor cell PNI, that is, the Matrigel / DRG model. This model can be used to dynamically observe the invasion of tumor cells to DRG. It is currently the most commonly used in vitro culture method for studying PNI. This model was also selected for the in vitro experiments o...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Studies have shown that the occurrence of PNI can be observed in the previous three models, but both chemical agent induction and orthotopic inoculation tumor formation have disadvantages such as difficulty in modeling, large trauma, and low success rate; and subcutaneous tumor formation cannot simulate the surrounding pancreas. Neural conditions cannot provide ideal experimental conditions for the study of PNI

Moreover, there are no indirect signs of PNI in the above three models, and the presence or absence of PNI can only be determined after the animal is sacrificed for pathological examination.

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