Luciferase activity as a marker of tumor burden and as an indicator of tumor response to antineoplastic therapyin vivo (original) (raw)

Abstract

The gene encoding firefly luciferase has been used as a reporter gene for the study of gene function. The luciferase catalyzes its substrate and subsequently produces luminescence. In addition, it is not present in mammalian cells. We have therefore explored its use in monitoring the growth of tumors_in vivo_. The luciferase gene was transfected into two murine tumor lines, i.e. cl62 melanoma and M109 lung carcinoma, and the luciferase activity associated with the cells was determined by a rapid chemiluminescent reaction. Luciferase activity was well-correlated with the number of tumor cells_in vitro_. Luciferase activity also correlated with the tumor burden_in vivo_, as well as with the effect of an adoptive T cell transfer therapy in the syngeneic C3H/HeN mice experimental tumor model. This assay offers the advantage of being quantitative, rapid, and reliable for the detection of tumor burden and for the evaluation of the effect of antineoplastic therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 3005 First Avenue, 98121, Seattle, WA, USA
    Lurong Zhang, Karl Erik Hellström & Lieping Chen
  2. Vincent T. Lombardi Cancer Research Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3800 Reservoir Road NW, 20007, Washington DC, USA
    Lurong Zhang

Authors

  1. Lurong Zhang
  2. Karl Erik Hellström
  3. Lieping Chen

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Zhang, L., Hellström, K.E. & Chen, L. Luciferase activity as a marker of tumor burden and as an indicator of tumor response to antineoplastic therapy_in vivo_.Clin Exp Metast 12, 87–92 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01753974

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