Zebrafish Retinoblastoma Models

Retinoblastoma is a highly aggressive malignant tumor that frequently invades the brain and metastasizes to distant organs through the bloodstream. Invasion and metastasis of retinoblastoma may occur early in tumor development. Currently, preclinical retinoblastoma models are primarily established in mice because of the genetic tools available in this experimental species. However, these genetically manipulated mouse retinoblastomas often carry overexpression of specific oncogenes (such as SV40-T antigen) or deletion of tumor suppressor genes (such as p535). Since oncogene activation and tumor suppressor gene inactivation may not be present in human retinoblastoma, these oncogene-driven models are far from clinically relevant.

Teleost fish, especially zebrafish, have large eyes and well-characterized neuroanatomy. The zebrafish has many advantages as one of the main models for the analysis of the vertebrate visual system, such as high fecundity, transparency, embryogenesis that occurs outside the maternal organism, ease of mass maintenance, short life cycle, and the ability to study haploid development. As new technologies emerge, genetic analysis and imaging remain the strengths of the zebrafish model. Likewise, imaging of developmental and physiological processes benefits from a variety of fluorescent proteins and how they are expressed in embryos. Zebrafish are also attractive for high-throughput screening of small molecules. Zebrafish disease models are therefore a promising strategy for finding compounds with therapeutic potential.

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of the orthotopic retinoblastoma model in zebrafish.

Our Zebrafish Retinoblastoma Models

Creative Biogene has developed an orthotopic zebrafish model in which retinoblastoma invasion and metastasis can be monitored at the single-cell level. We take advantage of the immunity and transparency of zebrafish embryos to dynamically monitor tumor cell invasion and metastasis by intravitreal implantation of color-coded retinoblastoma cells. Additionally, we offer transgenic zebrafish that display green fluorescent signals in blood vessels to help you study the interaction between retinoblastoma cells and surrounding microvessels. In conclusion, our zebrafish retinoblastoma model may provide an important tool for studying metastatic mechanisms and evaluating the therapeutic effects of drugs that block retinoblastoma invasion.

Advantages

• Easy observation of tumorigenesis and tumor-induced phenotypes in live animals
• Mass mutagenesis
• High-throughput gene/drug screening
• Dynamic monitoring of tumor growth and invasion at different time points

Creative Biogene is dedicated to providing new insights into the pathogenesis of retinoblastoma and helping advance the evaluation of novel anti-tumor drugs. If you would like to learn more about zebrafish models, please feel free to contact us.

References

1. Jo DH, et al. Orthotopic transplantation of retinoblastoma cells into vitreous cavity of zebrafish for screening of anticancer drugs. Mol Cancer. 2016, 12:71.
2. Chen X, et al. Invasiveness and metastasis of retinoblastoma in an orthotopic zebrafish tumor model. Sci Rep. 2015, 5: 10351.
3. Avanesov A, Malicki J. Analysis of the retina in the zebrafish model. Methods Cell Biol. 2010, 100:153-204.

For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.