Orthotopic Models with Advanced Imaging

Predictive Preclinical Benefits of Orthotopic Models

Orthotopic tumor models provide a clinically relevant, organ-specific tumor microenvironment (TME) to improve preclinical predictivity over subcutaneous alternatives. Generated by seeding tumor cells at the organ-specific site of the original tumor, orthotopic models mimic the primary lesion and establish better tumor, stroma, and immune component interactions than subcutaneous implantation.

This allows more human-disease relevant tumor development and progression, including spontaneous metastasis, recapitulating late-stage tumors. Orthotopic models therefore provide the ideal setting to:

• investigate disease mechanisms
• target the metastatic niche with new therapeutics
• generate more patient-relevant response or resistance to anticancer agents.

Advances in Orthotopic Models

Orthotopic models offer many benefits but there remain challenges. Orthotopic implantation of cell lines can be time consuming, technically challenging and inefficient due to the laboratory and surgical procedures required to establish these tumor models. To address these challenges, Crown Bioscience has introduced high-frequency ultrasound to provide a less invasive and faster method of cell implantation, with significant improvements in animal welfare.

Learn More about high-frequency ultrasound

Ultrasound Imaging to Track Disease Progression and Metastasis

Unlike BLI, HF ultrasound imaging does not require the use of bioluminescently-tagged tumor models. This can reduce study lead time and eliminates the potential of loss-of signal due to necrotic tumor tissue in certain tumor types. Additionally, HF ultrasound offers 2D and 3D imaging for tumor tracking and precise measurement of tumor volume and location.

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