biostudies-literatureBanan BNIDDK NIH HHSNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Cancer InstituteNCI NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthOffice of the Secretary of DefenseNIH HHS247-255https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7979265biostudies-literatureUnknown37(2)Current laboratory models of lymphatic metastasis generally require either genetically modified animals or are technically challenging. Herein, we have developed a robust protocol for the induction of intralymphatic metastasis in wild-type mice with reproducible outcomes. To determine an optimal injection quantity and timeline for tumorigenesis, C57Bl/6 mice were injected directly into the mesenteric lymph duct (MLD) with varying numbers of syngeneic murine colon cancer cells (MC38) or gastric cancer cells (YTN16) expressing GFP/luciferase and monitored over 2-4 weeks. Tumor growth was tracked via whole-animal in vivo bioluminescence imaging (IVIS). Our data indicate that the injection of tumor cells into the MLD is a viable model for lymphatic metastasis as necropsies revealed large tumor burdens and metastasis in regional lymph nodes. This protocol enables a closer study of the role of lymphatics in cancer metastasis and opens a window for the development of novel approaches for treatment of metastatic diseases.Clinical & experimental metastasisDevelopment of a novel murine model of lymphatic metastasis.PMC7979265P30 CA068485S10 OD021804U24 DK059637P30 DK058404U25 DK059632W81XWH-18-1-0234T32 CA106183CA 106183Adcock JMBanan BSohn YGoldenring JRDunavant LEAbumrad NFingleton BBeckstead JANomura SfalseDevelopment of a novel murine model of lymphatic metastasis.Current laboratory models of lymphatic metastasis generally require either genetically modified animals or are technically challenging. Herein, we have developed a robust protocol for the induction of intralymphatic metastasis in wild-type mice with reproducible outcomes. To determine an optimal injection quantity and timeline for tumorigenesis, C57Bl/6 mice were injected directly into the mesenteric lymph duct (MLD) with varying numbers of syngeneic murine colon cancer cells (MC38) or gastric cancer cells (YTN16) expressing GFP/luciferase and monitored over 2-4 weeks. Tumor growth was tracked via whole-animal in vivo bioluminescence imaging (IVIS). Our data indicate that the injection of tumor cells into the MLD is a viable model for lymphatic metastasis as necropsies revealed large tumor burdens and metastasis in regional lymph nodes. This protocol enables a closer study of the role of lymphatics in cancer metastasis and opens a window for the development of novel approaches for treatment of metastatic diseases.2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Apr2025-04-22T08:23:05.135Z2025-04-05T22:29:46.288ZS-EPMC79792653205223110.1007/s10585-020-10025-3