Fig 1.
Characterization of primary tumor growth for orthotopically implanted LM2-4, LM2-4H2N and MDA-MB-231 cells.
(A) Representative BLI and CT images of primary tumors before resection. Dashed lines outline the tumor contour. R: right. (B) Quantification of primary tumor BLI signal. (C-D) Quantification of primary tumor volume before resection based on CT (C) and caliper measurements (D). (E-G) Correlation between CT tumor volume and BLI signal (E), CT tumor volume and caliper measurements (F), and caliper measurements and BLI signal (G).
Fig 2.
Spatiotemporal pattern of metastasis formation after removal of the primary LM2-4, LM2-4H2N and MDA-MB-231 tumor.
(A) Representative images of BLI assessment of metastatic burden following removal of the primary LM2-4, LM2-4H2N, and MDA-MB-231 tumor. Arrows illustrate primary regrowth (P) and metastatic regions: left inguinal region (LI), left and right axillary region (LA/RA), liver/lung region (L/L). (B) Metastatic incidences excluding primary regrowth detected by BLI over time after removal of the primary tumor. (C) Metastatic incidences detected by BLI on day 21 post primary tumor resection for different anatomical locations. (D-E) BLI signal from the primary tumor regrowth (D) and from distant metastasis (E) for all animals that eventually develop metastasis. *P < 0.05, t-test. (F) Numbers of animals included in panel D & E.
Fig 3.
[18F]FDG-PET of metabolic activity of primary tumors and metastasis of LM2-4 and LM2-4H2N cells.
(A) Representative images of [18F]FDG uptake in primary tumors of LM2-4 and LM2-4H2N at 11 days post inoculation. Arrows indicate the tumor location. (B) [18F]FDG uptake in SUVmax for the primary tumor. (C) [18F]FDG uptake in SUVmax for the muscle. (D) Representative images of [18F]FDG uptake at different metastatic sites (labelled with arrows) on day 18 post primary tumor removal. (E-F) [18F]FDG uptake in SUVmax in lung (E) and in metastatic lesions (F) at 18 days post primary tumor removal. (G) Correlation between [18F]FDG uptake in SUVmax and metastatic nodule volume. L: left. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, Two-way ANOVA/t-test.
Fig 4.
In vivo and ex vivo imaging of breast cancer metastasis at study endpoint for LM2-4 and LM2-4H2N.
Imaging of breast cancer metastasis using bioluminescence imaging (BLI), and ex vivo fluorescence and in vivo CT imaging at 48h or 24h, respectively, following injection of the dual-modality contrast agent. Metastatic nodules were confirmed by H&E staining. RA/LA: right/left axillary nodule, P: primary tumor regrowth, L: lung, A: abdominal nodule.