PUBLICATION
High-resolution imaging of the dynamic tumor cell vascular interface in transparent zebrafish
- Authors
- Stoletov, K., Montel, V., Lester, R.D., Gonias, S.L., and Klemke, R.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-071029-10
- Date
- 2007
- Source
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104(44): 17406-17411 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Klemke, Richard
- Keywords
- angiogenesis, cancer, RhoC, metastasis
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Movement
- Disease Progression
- Humans
- Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods*
- Neoplasm Invasiveness
- Neoplasms/blood supply*
- Neoplasms/metabolism
- Neoplasms/pathology*
- Phenotype
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Zebrafish*/metabolism
- rho GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- PubMed
- 17954920 Full text @ Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
Citation
Stoletov, K., Montel, V., Lester, R.D., Gonias, S.L., and Klemke, R. (2007) High-resolution imaging of the dynamic tumor cell vascular interface in transparent zebrafish. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 104(44):17406-17411.
Abstract
Cell metastasis is a highly dynamic process that occurs in multiple steps. Understanding this process has been limited by the inability to visualize tumor cell behavior in real time by using animal models. Here, we employ translucent zebrafish and high-resolution confocal microscopy to study how human cancer cells invade in tissues, induce angiogenesis, and interact with newly formed vessels. We use this system to study how the human metastatic geneRhoC promotes the initial steps of metastasis. We find that RhoC expression induces a primitive amoeboid-like cell invasion characterized by the formation of dynamic membrane protrusions and blebs. Surprisingly, these structures penetrate the blood vessel wall exclusively at sites of vascular remodeling and not at regions of existing intact vessels. This process requires tumor cells to secrete VEGF, which induces vascular openings, which in turn, serve as portholes allowing access ofRhoC-expressing cells to the blood system. Our results support a model in which the early steps in intravasation and metastasis require two independent events: (i) dynamic regulation of the actin/myosin cytoskeleton within the tumor cell to form protrusive structures and (ii) vascular permeablization and vessel remodeling. The integration of zebrafish transgenic technology with human cancer biology may aid in the development of cancer models that target specific organs, tissues, or cell types within the tumors. Zebrafish could also provide a cost-effective means for the rapid development of therapeutic agents directed at blocking human cancer progression and tumor-induced angiogenesis.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping